Club 80-90 Forums

Hello all, I have had a slight misfire problem for some months. There also was the occasional hiccup when she would lose all power and then clear her throat and run fine. I tried to adjust the timing but put it down to a new coil fitted which was meant for post B reg vans and original spec plugs still fitted. I changed the plugs and the misfire virtually disappeared. I have listened to the advice and try to give the old girl a run out every week and have changed fuel filter, plugs distributor cap and rotor arm and H.T leads as well as checking all the usual carb pipes for air leeks. However the backfire has comeback and now has taken to conking out, this can be when just idling or like this week trying to get up Brentwood hill in the snow. The van has a hick-up and then dies and will take 2 minutes to start again. Once started it will run fine for 40-50 minutes then it will happen again and this time not knocking out just hiccuping.It has proved very disconcerting when the HGV are right up your butt. The van is a A reg 1900 DG Devon pop top with 104,000 on the clock, she has been well maintained and i would like to venture further a field on this years camping trips but this problem will dent the confidence when traveling with the wife and three kids. Thanks for what help and advice you can give, it is appreciated. Karl

Was the fuel filter dirty and full of crap?
Crap in the tank blocking outlet?

sounds like your fuel pump is on the way out

Thanks for the heads up on the fuel pump. I changed the fuel filter back in September and it was a bit loaded up with what can best be described as a fine silt, not a massive amount but enough to fool me in to thinking i had got to the root of the problem. I can leave it ticking over for 20 minutes on the drive and when i pull off the drive and go 500 yards and stop at the junction it just cuts out and as you turn the key it turns over but will not fire, when it does it might give a back fire then its fine for hours or even a day or so. I have changed the air filter thinking that might be it but no, the good thing is the fuel pump is not too dear, who's the best to buy from J.K or G&S?

why not check fuel pump first. Be good to kmow your changing it because you know its faulty, otherwise its just guess work.
What is the condition of the new fuel filter now?
brickwerks best or gsf for pump

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=114

I followed your advice and for christmas this year i am getting a new fuel pump from brickwerks

i have had a similar problem, van turned over but wouldnt fire and when it did it cut out again,

took it to a garage who fitted a new fuel pump and filter and charged me 200, then it ran fine for a day and then i came out in the morning the day after and it wouldnt start again, took it back to them and they took the new fuel pump off and replaced it with the old one and gave me a refund,

then i got it towed to another garage who tried to start it and it started fine and was running fine, they have said to me that the fuel filter is clogging up as soon as its replaced due to dirt and crap in the fuel tank,

they are now in the process of cleaning out the fuel tank or replacing it along with all new fuel lines,

fingers crossed this willl sort the problem out

elmo makaroy wrote: they have said to me that the fuel filter is clogging up as soon as its replaced due to dirt and crap in the fuel tank,

good point with the tank but

karl40 wrote: I have listened to the advice and try to give the old girl a run out every week and have changed fuel filter

one step at a time eh elmo?

Afternoon,

Just to jump in here, whilst bolting on your shiny new fuel pump from Santa, its worth just measuring the length of the push rod that operates it. Once the pump is off, it should just lift out.

Should be 100mm long, but after many years pumping it may now be shorter - this can compound the whole issue, as the pump never operates at full flow. GSF do replacements for about a tenner if yours is short.

I had symptoms the same as yours, popped a new pump on and its now fine, so hopefully will cure yours too.

Cheers,

Alex

Thanks for the tips everyone, i will check the length of the push rod when she is stripped down. It makes perfect sense and the pearls of wisdom you all pass on will not be wasted. While doing the swap i will change the fuel filter again, as they don't cost mega bucks and add some fuel cleaner for good measure. The carb is as clean as a whistle and the air filter is new as is the air hoses. What would be the most important preventative measure when looking after one of these beauties.

karl40 wrote: What would be the most important preventative measure when looking after one of these beauties.

There's a few in my PM book
Doing an oil and filter change twice a year, using the right oil. I use 20w50 in the summer and 15w40 in the winter (both mineral)
Changing the Coolant every two years with the correct coolant.
Changing the fuel lines (if original)

to name but a few

Thanks for the tip on the fuel lines, i think some have been changed but not all. I was a bit naive about changing the oil once a year, the old girl has done about 4000 miles and i thought that one change of oil was enough. When the weather breaks i will be doing a few little jobs to keep things working well.

That's just what I do.. you don't have to follow my routine.
I change my oil so regular because it's so cheap ....at Lidl and Asda. (Their own brand) it's even cheaper.. than a new engine
the coolant changes are to stop the weeping water jacket seal, I've learned poor past it coolant speeds up the pitting on the seal surfaces.

Hello all, The fault is still there and starting to get more frequent now and i am now scared to take her out. I have spent all day Saturday doing a full service where i changed the plugs, H.T leads, distributor cap and arm, air filter, fuel filter. I have checked the vac pipes,vac advance and gasket under the carb for leaks with easy start, all seem o.k. New oil and filter and then the new fuel pump from Brickwerks (new coil fitted 5 months ago)and for a brief moment i thought i had conquered the problem, but 5 minutes in to the test drive it happened again a cough and splutter and the van then petered out. She started fine again and moments later faltered again, gutted! I checked the carb a solex 34 PICT and all seemed clean and o.k. Is there a filter i have missed in the card itself which maybe loaded with crap. She starts fine and the timing is spot on but at various times she will splutter out. What's next???

OK
So to recap, you start the engine it runs fine no backfire or stalling, revs away with issue.
10 mins later when the engine has warmed up it starts mis firing, backfiring and cutting out.

Is that what's happening?