Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,

My 1.9 petrol has been suffering from the intermittent 'kangarooing' that I've been reading about on various threads. Usually happens on long runs. Went all the way from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire to Doncaster without a problem, but was really lumpy and pulling up badly on the way back (after having stood for well over an hour). Really loses speed rapidly and feels like it wants to stop. Not ideal on the A1!!

Called the AA out and he had a look at the jets in the carb. They all looked really clean. Sprayed carb cleaner in it and said there was nothing more he could do. We managed to limp home...just. Don't know how we made it up some of the hills. Just to make things more interesting, every time I arrived at a junction or roundabout it would just cut out as soon as I lifted off the throttle!

AA man said that it could be a weak fuel pump, so I changed that for a new one this afternoon with all new gaskets etc., now it won't start at all. It turns over but won't strike up. I changed the fuel filter as well. Mine is in the engine bay....I couldn't see one under the van where it's meant to be. When I try to start the engine, there is no fuel going through the new filter.

Do I have to change anything else when I fit a new fuel pump? Anything on the carb?

I'm really out of my depth here!! I've only just got it to start after sitting on my drive for about three weeks....Oilite bush worn on the starter, now all it wants to do is stop!

Any help would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks,

Cord.

Not worked on the 1.9 but back to basics, have you got the filter before the pump? iv known it happen where the pipes have been put on a pump the wrong way round so worth checking, take the pipe to the carb off the pump and get someone to turn the engine over you should get fuel pumping out? if not its nothing to do with the carb you have to check if the pump is working or you have a blockage/air lock in the pipe/tank (blow down the pipe if you can) As for the pump not working did you fit the same thickness gasket and is the shaft worn / seated properly...

Good luck

Try dropping a teaspoon of petrol into the carb and turn the key

Ian

Could be crap in the tank blocking fuel outlet. This would give syptoms you said you had and would also now stop any fuel from getin to the enigne. There is fuel in it ? Should be a filter just out of the tank. Remove pipe from tank and see if petrol comes out. How old is your tank. How clean/dirty was the old fuel filter? Fuel pump push rod?

if the fuel looks milky in the filter it may have water in it, drain a bit off and have a look. if it is check the small rubber piece of filler tube under the wheel arch behind the filler cap

There should be a good healthy squirt of fuel from the pump
measure the pushrod length to the pump and compare it to the spec in Haynes.
It reads like you were having trouble before the pump.
So back to basics and change the filters, plugs, cap, arm and leads.
Check for air leaks from the vacuum tubes, servo hose, pull down unit and gaskets.

Hi,

I braved the cold and wet to try and get the fuel tank off today, but to no avail. The bolts holding the supports are totally rusted in and rounded off...great!! When I drained the fuel out it was clean with no bits or water in it. The tank is very rusty though, and I don't know the condition of the pipes going into the top (I can guess though!).

The plastic filler tube looks intact with no splits or cracks in it. I'll just have to replace the fuel lines that I can get to and see if it makes any difference.

I cleaned the contacts up in the dizzy cap, and the rotor arm. I had a look at one of the plugs and it looked ok (a sort of strong tea colour) so I think the mixture is probably ok. Also, the contacts in the HT leads looked clean. Do I need to replace these as a matter of course, even if they look ok? Like I said before, I'm a bit out of my depth here and have been sold a dud of a van which I'm slowly trying to put right!!

Cheers,

Cord.

Hi,

Its been said before, but have you checked?

xl426 wrote: iv known it happen where the pipes have been put on a pump the wrong way round so worth checking, take the pipe to the carb off the pump and get someone to turn the engine over you should get fuel pumping out?

I don't want to sound like I'm doubting your mechanical prowess, but you did fit the right line to the right inlet / outlet on the pump didn't you, and the filter the right way round?

This seems the most logical explanation.

Also, have you tried Ian's suggestion of dropping a little fuel directly down the the carb and trying? If it starts then you know there is nothing wrong with the engine / carb and that the probelme is solely fuel pump / fuel line related.

Cheers,

Alex

Last thing I'd be contemplating is removing the tank

Do this AA style, one section at a time. If you attack it in a hit n' miss way, you may struggle to cure it and pay through the nose for stuff you don't need. Engine needs fuel and spark to go.

Ascertain (as suggested) that pipe from pump to carb is actually delivering fuel (two man job hanging pipe into a jam jar with rotor arm removed and turning engine over). If its pumping, then clean the little 'hidden' cone filter tucked inside brass fuel inlet pipe on carb (self-tapper will fetch it out). Then if no joy clean jets in carb etc but don't head straight for tank.

CovKid wrote:Last thing I'd be contemplating is removing the tank

corduroyculture wrote: The tank is very rusty though, and I don't know the condition of the pipes going into the top (I can guess though!). Cord.

If the tank's shot replace it, replace all the fuel lines, breather hoses and filter ... this needs doing anyway sooner rather than later. Fresh petrol as well, filter the old stuff and use it in the lawn mower

Ian

Hi,

As I was checking the pipes around the carb this morning I noticed that the wire to the fuel cut off valve looked a bit suspect. I unscrewed it to find that it was only just hanging on by a couple of threads. The wire has now snapped off completely, right at the black moulded part at the top so I've got no chance of re-attaching it!

I've got a Weber carb and I can't find a replacement cut off valve anywhere online (apart from the £400 Just Kampers complete Weber conversion kit!) The idle cut off valve on Just Kampers is totally different. Is this the same thing? I'm really struggling here. Can I still test the fuel pump with a bit of petrol in it without this valve in? I've got the tank drained waiting for some new fuel hose (I have some 6mm hose...can I use that?). Also, I can't find the conical filter in the carb inlet....Is it right up inside?

Cheers,

Cord.

Also....Does the Weber carb have a choke pull down unit? If so, where is it and what does it look like?

I'm starting to lose the will to live here!!

My best advice would be to treat yourself to a pre-loved standard T25 fitment 2E3 Pierburg carb, that way everything is standard how VW intended. I'm sure a search of this forum under 'Weber' will reveal a tail of woe, tears and tantrums.

Ian

Hi,

I too have a Weber carb, it came with the van. Whilst I accept many people have had issues with them mine seems to work fine and I've always found soemthing else to spend the money it would take to get the pierberg on (mainly things that are really broken, which are too numerous to list here!!)

Weber doesn't have a filter, so don't worry about fishing round for that.

Fuel cut off valve wise try either of these, they may well be able to help.

http://www.webcon.co.uk/

http://www.dellorto.co.uk/merchandise/C ... ctionID=45

Aternatively, get a very sharp knife, scrape back the plastic covering and carefully solder on a new wire - not ideal, but would get you going for a while until you can source a new one.

You could still test the pump without the valve in. Don't run the van like this though, as fuel will come out the hole!

Weber choke wise, there is a short guide avaiable here https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=79538. any questions let me know.

As said before, take it slowly one step at a time.

It was working, just not very well, before the fuel pump change. So first, check the fuel pump is delivering fuel. If it is, then we can move onto the next step.....

Good luck,

Alex