Club 80-90 Forums

Oh Gawd am I desperate

I'm supposed to be heading off for a week in the van Sunday night and it's cutting out on me.

I've just got it back from Syncronutz

It's had fitted new

Clutch

Fuel tank

Exhaust

The van lefty the garage and drove okay for 10 miles, then started to splutter, lose power then cut out all together.

After a minute or so It starts fine, I drive away then about 3/4 mile along the road it does the same thing again, again it starts I drive away and this repeats itself all the way till I get home.

It started doing this yesterday, I called the RAC out, he had a play around with it and recommended I replaced the fuel pump, I did so today but to no avail, 1/2 miles driving and it does the same thing.

I'm waiting on the RAC coming again, I prayed it would be the fuel pump but it doesn't appear to be

I've got ferries booked for 1st thing Monday morning, I need a miracle I think

Any suggestions that I could throw at the mechanic when he arrives ?

I'm totaly stumped, the van drove fine before the repairs to the fuel system, everything seems to be in place, I just can't figure what the hell the problem is and I'm running out of time to get it fixed for my Hols.

Is fuel getting through ?
is the fuel filter new ?
which engine is it ?

Is fuel getting though ? I'm assuming so the van will sit ticking over outside the house the mechanic bypassed the fuel pump with a wee handpump and didn't seem to have any problems pumping fuel out


is the fuel filter new ? The wee one just of the tank is brand new yes

which engine is it ? It's the 1.9 Watercooled petrol 1985 engine DG?

you could take the fuel line off that leaves the pump to go to the carb and get someone to turn it over while you check that fuel is pumping .. there is fuel in the tank .....

T'Onion wrote:you could take the fuel line off that leaves the pump to go to the carb and get someone to turn it over while you check that fuel is pumping .. there is fuel in the tank .....

The mechanic did the exact thing yesterday with the old fuel pump in and it seemed fine, I put £30 worth of petrol in yesterday

Take the air filter off and get someone to turn it over , see if you can see the petrol getting through , check the air filter aswell could be blocked

weejoe,
A very, very, long shot, mentioned recently on a club forum, fuel tank not vented, therefore a slight vacuum is built up as fuel is drawn out, leading to a lack of fuel supply. Try with the tank cap loose or off. Not likely but worth a try.
Mike

try running the engine without the air filter on, then block up to top of the carb so that its not able to suck in any air. Then rev the beejeesus out of it until the engine dies (which it will cos it won't be able to breath). This will cause the carb to suck really hard on the fuel lines and mighthelp your problem. Mine did what you are describing when I ran it dry once.

Hope you get it sorted though

Sounds like a fuel tank with blocked vents to me.

Have you called Syncronutz? If they've just done all this work for you, if I were you they'd be my first port of call.

It's gubbed

RAC suspect either Cylinder head gasket or the water pump as the pulley is running wobbly.

If so , how much am I looking at to have these replaced ?

I've already forked out a grand on clutch/fueltank/exhaust/general leaks

The coolant was scorching and shot out about 4 feet in the air when he released the cap, luckily he was coverring it or he'd have got a bad one.

The van is being towed up to Syncronutz to have it looked over, unfortunately that won't happen till Monday earliest so it looks like I'll be driving up in the NB , tenting it or looking for digs

Not a happy bunny

Haven't even had a single nights camping in the van

Thanks for the help anyway folks and I'll let you know the outcome.

WeeJoe,
I am sure you are too young to remember this song but,

"Just a little man (weejoe)
and his little van,
and Syncronutz did some work on it,
Just a little man, with his little van,
and what have they done to his van?"

With thanks (and apologies) to Malvina Reynolds who wrote the original lyrics. (What have they done to the rain)

Mike

hi i had a problem with mine sounds similer i replaced the engine coil distributer cap leads etc in the end i tried redex fuel additive as a last resort wow after two tanks through it run a lot better after four runs perfect worth a try

Thanks Hammy

The van is back at SyncroNutz garage as I got it towed away tonight.

reliable aint they, vw

Sorry to hear about your problems weejoe, I hope you wont miss to much of your trip.

I had to spend a few bob on mine after i brought it back from Germany, just wear and tear. Slightly frustrating but hang in there.