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Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:25 pm

Tram,

Browsing thru the acres of advice you have given out actually gives me hope. Preface: I'm not too mechanical, but not afraid to try and I have never worked on an aircooled engine before.

I have a 71 squareback. Love it! 2 weeks ago I got rear-ended in a hit and run. She ran OK, just mangled for about 4 days, then blew the #3 spark plug right out. I took her to a local and recommended VW mechanic, $300 later I had a valve adjustment, a tune up with new plugs, wires, cap, rotor and brushes, and an oil change and screen cleaning. The car started right up, sounded like a VW again, but reeked of gas. The mech told me it was residue from the blown plug and it would go away.

It's been a week, 4 tanks of gas averaging 11 mpg and the gas smell is as bad as ever. Additionally, in the low end of the gears it lugs something awful, like it's flooded.

The mech will look at it, for a price, swearing he didn't do anything at all to the fuel line or injection.

What do you think I should do next? Is there an adjustment I can make? I love driving my car but at 11 mpg it's hard to justify.

Thanks for your help.

Deacon

Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:09 pm

You don't need an adjustment; something broke and needs to be repaired or replaced.

Richness can be caused by disconnected hoses (contrary to intuition, an intake air leak causes richness in the FI setup, not leanness as on a carb setup), disconnected wires, or a broken MPS. All of these are possible results of an impact.

Check the engine bay for loose hoses and wires, and then try testing wires and sensors with a VOM.

Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:20 pm

Looking for a schematic of the wires and hoses. I guess you know what I'm going to be doing this weekend.

Thanks again!

Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:42 pm

KTPhil wrote: You don't need an adjustment; something broke and needs to be repaired or replaced.

Richness can be caused by disconnected hoses (contrary to intuition, an intake air leak causes richness in the FI setup, not leanness as on a carb setup), disconnected wires, or a broken MPS. All of these are possible results of an impact.

Check the engine bay for loose hoses and wires, and then try testing wires and sensors with a VOM.

Exactly. Also, check your fuel pressure and, if too high, check for a kink in the return system.

Unplug the cold start valve and see if that helps.

keep an eye on the OIL as it can easily be getting gas fouled and thinned out! :shock:

Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:45 pm

Deacon64 wrote: Looking for a schematic of the wires and hoses. I guess you know what I'm going to be doing this weekend.

Thanks again!

Wiring:
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii33/tramandbixrule/VWFIwiringT3.jpg

Will get you a hose diagram later if no one else can supply- need to dig in the Archives.

Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:51 pm

Clymer Publications ch 7. downloaded from vwtype3.org, looks to have fairly clear explanations and photos. Actually explained some of the terms you had used that I wasn't familiar with.

Will see what I can do, this is my daily driver, and it's eating me out of house and home.

thanks for all the help. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

Thu Dec 08, 2011 3:24 pm

I am have trouble starting my 1969 type 3 squareback when it is cold it takes awhile for it to start. Once it warms up it starts up fine. What do u recommend?

Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:31 am

jackjoe0 wrote: I am have trouble starting my 1969 type 3 squareback when it is cold it takes awhile for it to start. Once it warms up it starts up fine. What do u recommend? Check you cold start valve and also check your intake manifold is secure at the heads. Also check your seals at the injectors..

Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:52 pm

I found the cold start valve... finally. Thanks to some pictures of parts for sale and a little deductive reasoning. I started up just fine, so we will see if it makes a difference. I left the temp sensor alone, I just added some electrical tape to what looked like some broken insulation, the wire was intact.

As far as air hoses... that was not very obvious either... It would appear that the hoses don't require hose clamps? I thought they were pretty easy to disengage, but they didn't look like they'd been touched in over a decade. I made sure they were sealed connected properly, and they were.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me so far... I hope this works, crummy time of year to have your car on the fritz, especially in Utah, it's freaking freezing here.
:lol:

Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:14 pm

I've just unbolted the pairs of injectors turned the engine over and watched mine spray gas onto the top of the engine. You can see them working of not. If they spray evenly I might start looking for a different problem?

Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:17 pm

Just an FYI to all: incorrectly adjusted throttle switches can cause starting issues also.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:57 am

Does anyone have a chart showing the part numbers for the fi harnesses from different years? I need to know the part # for a 68 "A" harness

Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:52 pm

Mason wrote: Does anyone have a chart showing the part numbers for the fi harnesses from different years? I need to know the part # for a 68 "A" harness

I don't know the part number, and it really doesn't matter since they are no longer available commercially.

"'68 A harness" is pretty descriptive, though you may want to specify if you have a cold start valve or not. Some have been retrofitted. I can't remember at the moment if this ties into the FI harness or not.

JSMskater makes replacement harnesses:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=430215

Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:46 pm

KTPhil wrote: Mason wrote: Does anyone have a chart showing the part numbers for the fi harnesses from different years? I need to know the part # for a 68 "A" harness

I don't know the part number, ant it really doens't matter since they are no longer available commercially.

"'68 A harness" is pretty descriptive, though you may want to specify if you have a cold start valve or not. Some have been retrofitted. I can't remember at the moment if this ties into the FI harness or not.

JSMskater makes replacement harnesses:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=430215

I think according to Bentley, they are an add on.
If the OP needs a harness, Joe is the first guy I'd contact. 8) He does great work on them.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:24 pm

:)" If the OP needs a harness, Joe is the first guy I'd contact. Cool He does great work on them."

Second the thought on the above,he did mine last year works very well!

:D Bill

Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:13 pm

No cold start valve. The reason I ask is the harness that popped up for sale in the classifieds.

Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:38 am

Hey Tram,
I am new to this VW thing and just started a project. I acquired the body and frame of a 63 Notch, so I started looking for a parts car and just pulled a 69 Squareback out of a field here in Oregon. It is fuel injected, and the thought of it terifies me. Might be coming back to you for info.

Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:28 am

Get the engine bolted in the '63 and pay Tram to get it running/driving in Springfield. He did a Hell of a job on mine! :D

Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:15 pm

hi i have a 1970 squareback and i need help it has been sitting for five years and i am trying to restore it i am having problems with the accessorie light it doesn't work can anyone help me

Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:33 pm

Brien (itaway of life) in Buena Park is Good and could get it fixed in your driveway. Search for itawayoflife/PM him and ask him.