Club 80-90 Forums

Ok Ive looked and cannot fin a thread, so bear with me if Im boring too many people

1.9 water cooled engine which every so often becomes kangaroo like. There is no specific time when this might happen other than when its been on trip for a while, but not every time.

The bugger is when I get to a junction and want to pull away I really have to rev the engine before lifting up the clutch otherwise it just dies and cuts out. Very embarrassing when youre in France with impatient drivers giving you plenty of gaelic horn

Any ideas on what this could be and how to fix it?

Ta very muchly

Hi

From the sound of it I think you need to get someone with a bit of experience to look at it.

I say this because I take it you aren't confident checking things like fuel pumps, carb jets, ignition coils, distributors, ignition amplifiers and stuff. Any of them could cause the symptoms you describe.

Basically it sounds like weak sparks or fuel starvation, though it could also be a loose vacuum pipe from either the carb or the distributor, or a leak between carb and manifold.

You just have to be methodical and go through the likely suspects.

Is there any common denominator, like is it always OK when cold ?
Does it do it worse after a long run ?
Does it start up OK.
What do the plug tips look like ?

Note = If checking sparks, do be careful as our electronic ignition systems can give you a belt that really hurts and on rare occasions has killed someone !

fuel pump, fuel filter and pipes first, remembering it should only have one fuel filter, under the sill, near the tank.

like the man above says, a process of illimination will need to take place.

Have a quick look at the fuel filter first for debris/dirt n crud then check ignition system is spot on before checking the fueling system... jus the way I have been taught and work on these.

IF you are worried bout how to do it there's enough info on here and friendly people - some of whom are qualified mechanics -to help and support you! Jus don't rely on us to help u on a friday evening when you're leaving to drive to Spain the next morning as we may well be down the pub..

Does it only do it just as you wanting to pull away??
That could easily be the vac advance unit faulty... or even the timing set incorrectly...

But if it does it on a constant throttle... as said could be dirt in the carb...

Hi I am having a similar problem - same engine that mainly on the return journey from say a 2-3 hour drive would start to lose power, jump and then cut out. It would restart but die straight away then backfire if we revved it. A few hours later it would be fine. Have no idea about mechanics so took it to our VW garage who said it was a blocked fuel line and needed a service. Did that and it still happened, then they thought it was the fuel pump, changed it and sadly still happened. Spent a lot of money already, so tried another garage who have diagnosed a faulty rotor arm and am picking it up tomorrow. Hope this helps.
Anyone know a reliable garage in East London/Essex?

campe5 wrote:Hi I am having a similar problem - same engine that mainly on the return journey from say a 2-3 hour drive would start to lose power, jump and then cut out. It would restart but die straight away then backfire if we revved it. A few hours later it would be fine. Have no idea about mechanics so took it to our VW garage who said it was a blocked fuel line and needed a service. Did that and it still happened, then they thought it was the fuel pump, changed it and sadly still happened. Spent a lot of money already, so tried another garage who have diagnosed a faulty rotor arm and am picking it up tomorrow. Hope this helps.
Anyone know a reliable garage in East London/Essex?

Yours could be a vacuum building up in the petrol tank ( though on our vans this is less likely than on many vehicles ) - next time it does it, jump out and take the petrol cap off whilst listening for any inrush of air.

Could also be a failing Coil or Ignition amp ( front L/H side of the engine bay screwed to the body, about the size of a ciggy packet and black).

Someone will be along soon to recommend a garage in your neck of the woods that knows about T25's soon...

btw = best avoid normal garages - they don't know our engines etc and don't like working on them which adds up poorly diagnosed and expensive !!

p.s. - Don't ever let a "normal" garage go near your exhaust system !!
That is a job for folks who know about T25 exhausts !!

Many possible cause, faulty air mass sensor, badly adjusted throttle position sensor or throttle. Could also be the dreaded vanagon syndrome, but unlikley if your getting the fault all the time.

Unfortunately its probably going to be one of those things that will mean going through all the fuel system, and checking the electronics for faults or poor adjustment.

If you have or know some one with the bentley workshop manual it has some fault finding flow charts which might be a good start.

To all the contributors I thank you, I'll have a look at the weekend.