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Mon Dec 16, 2002 9:05 am

My buddy has been having a stalling problem on his bus now for the past two weeks. He can drive it for about 2-3 miles then it starts to cut out. Most likely it will stall but you can usually get it started again but it has a low idle. It acts like it's starving for fuel because if you start pumping the pedal, it will slowly start to rev back up and generally you can limp it back home.

To eliminate some possible problems, I had him use my carb that I know works with no change in the problem. We then switched out the coil but again, no change. I'm beginning to think that it's the pump because there is a lot of air passing through the filter. It looks like boiling water when the engine is running. My filer doesn't show this, the gas looks calm and fills the filter about halfway. If the pump is somehow sucking in a lot of air along with gas, could this be the cause of the starvation in the carb?

Mon Dec 16, 2002 9:08 am

check for vacume leaks? it may only be running ok at first when the choke is on then runs bad and stalls after the choke turns off? try seeing if they have any connection with eachother. if so, get some starting fluid and spray it around and the intake manifold connections and see if the idle changes. if so there is a vacume leak.

Mon Dec 16, 2002 10:14 am

We have already checked for vacuum leaks and there appears to be none. Thanks though. I feel it's either going to be fuel or electrical related.

Mon Dec 16, 2002 2:14 pm

Sounds like a vacuum leak or something. Points look ok? I'd try replacing the condensor and points if they look like they've been in there for a while. Spark plug wires can cause prob's like that too, especially if they are el-cheapo's. Drop me a line if you keep having trouble. Late. -Mark.

Mon Dec 16, 2002 2:18 pm

oh yeah, I bet it is a simple prob too. don't look over the easy stuff!!

Mon Dec 16, 2002 2:38 pm

I have to reset the points all the time in my bus because they are kind of old and the screw doesn't stay tight. It sputters for about 5 minutes or so before it warms up...jake.

Mon Dec 16, 2002 3:26 pm

So no one thinks that the fuel looking like boiling water would affect anything?

The plug wires are all good (Bosch) and sparkplugs too. I will have the guy check his points and maybe get a new condenser too. Over the phone, I had him do a simple check for leaks by having him cup his hand over the opening of the carb to see if it revs up and all it did was bog down and then die (good response).

Mon Dec 16, 2002 3:57 pm

The pump is a possibility, but mine has the "boiling" effect sometimes too, so I dunno what to say there. I'd say try the easy stuff until all efforts are exhausted and then try the fuel pump.

Mon Dec 16, 2002 4:18 pm

put a pump in it. they're cheap as dirt, then you'll know soon enough if that was it.

Mon Dec 16, 2002 6:02 pm

also the screen in the gas tank jet all junked up effecting flow

Tue Dec 17, 2002 12:13 am

There are supposed to be two lengths of push rods for the fuel pump. One for the alt type ect. Get a matching one when you buy the pump. I have 3 sizes at my house so who the hell knows. I have never had a fuel filter seem to be full of fuel, usually half way if I remember.

Wed Dec 18, 2002 7:15 pm

My buddies bus was doing something like this, where he'd drive it with a full tank of gas for about 100 miles, and then completely die like it was out of fuel. The filter was dry, however when we added more fuel to the tank it would only take about 4 gallons. And so we switched the pump, actually put on an electric one, but to no avail. All along, there was always a boiling/gurgling noise, and when you would remove the gas cap, a tremendous amount of pressure would be relieved and there would be a huge echoing gurgling sound.

Upon closer inspection, it was not a stock VW fuel cap...probably not vented or else clogged. I gave him an old stock one I had, and he has not had a problem since...over two months ago.

Don't know if this really sounds like your problem, but it may just be that simple.

Good Luck,
Benfalia

Thu Dec 19, 2002 6:12 am

I had a similar prob with my 64 Panel. Drove me crazy trying to figure it out. 1st thing I did was to replace the fuel pump. It worked for a while so I thought I fixed the prob. Then it died on me again. Turns out it was an internally collapsed original fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump. The rubber line looked fine on the outside though. Disconnect the fuel line from the tank to the pump at the pump and see how the
fuel flows out freely.

Thu Dec 19, 2002 7:52 am

All the lines are fine, it was one of the first things we checked. And I know about the gas cap possibly being a problem because it happened to me. I checked that as well but it was fine too.

Thu Dec 19, 2002 9:07 am

Have the valves been adjusted Mike?

Thu Dec 19, 2002 10:20 am

No they have not. I need to call him to see if he's done anything to it like try a new pump or anything else.

I lost your email address Mark. If you have mine, shoot me an email because I've been doing a lot of reading about 34 carbs and I want to talk to you about it.

Sun Dec 29, 2002 3:51 pm

Thanks everyone for your help and input. My buddy replaced the fuel pump and hasn't had a problem since. His gas in the filter looks normal now, not like a percolator anymore. Thanks again!