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Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:05 pm

1978 2.0 westy newly rebuilt engine. From a cold start it starts right up and idles pretty good maybe just a little low. Once warmed up after driving when I come to a stop it will be idling great but other times barely at all, I dont have a tach but its low, drive it for a while the idle is fine again ? If I let it set for as little as 10 minutes and restart it it idles really low again, take it out and run it for a few, it idles fine again.
The temp sensor is new I actually bought two they both perform the same way, any thoughts ?

Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:29 pm

Have you tried adjusting the idle up just a little? Has the engine been fully broken in?

Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:34 am

stuco wrote: Have you tried adjusting the idle up just a little? Has the engine been fully broken in?
I havent adjusted the idle up yet since when it does idle good the idle speed is just right, it has about 600-700 miles on the engine.

Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:43 pm

I think you need a few more miles on it. You may want to oil the wick in the top of the distributor under the rotor four or five drops as well as 1 or 2 drops on each weight pivot in case the weights are sticking. Also a few drops of oil on the breaker plate in case the breaker plate is sticking. Other things that could cause it are a accelerator cable that is sticking, throttle plate sticking, EGR leaking or mis adjusted if you have it installed, or a small vacuum leak like at the booster. If you have A?C that could cause it too. A mixture that is a tad lean or rich could cause it.

Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:42 pm

SGKent wrote: I think you need a few more miles on it. You may want to oil the wick in the top of the distributor under the rotor four or five drops as well as 1 or 2 drops on each weight pivot in case the weights are sticking. Also a few drops of oil on the breaker plate in case the breaker plate is sticking. Other things that could cause it are a accelerator cable that is sticking, throttle plate sticking, EGR leaking or mis adjusted if you have it installed, or a small vacuum leak like at the booster. If you have A?C that could cause it too. A mixture that is a tad lean or rich could cause it.

I have done the oil thing to the dist. new cable, no egr, I suspect its still running a little lean waiting for a July visit from Colin to get me dialed in by then I should have a few more miles on it, thanks SGK.

Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:48 pm

bajafreaks wrote: SGKent wrote: I think you need a few more miles on it. You may want to oil the wick in the top of the distributor under the rotor four or five drops as well as 1 or 2 drops on each weight pivot in case the weights are sticking. Also a few drops of oil on the breaker plate in case the breaker plate is sticking. Other things that could cause it are a accelerator cable that is sticking, throttle plate sticking, EGR leaking or mis adjusted if you have it installed, or a small vacuum leak like at the booster. If you have A?C that could cause it too. A mixture that is a tad lean or rich could cause it.

I have done the oil thing to the dist. new cable, no egr, I suspect its still running a little lean waiting for a July visit from Colin to get me dialed in by then I should have a few more miles on it, thanks SGK.

Colin will fix you up. Try to keep the speed down until then so you don't overheat it.

Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:52 am

Are you running an electronic ignition module? My bus had some funny idle issues when I installed a pertronix unit, have a read http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=437360

Also, I would check your crankcase breather diaphragm as they are often ruptured and have been rumored to cause rough idling.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=251133

Good Luck

Tue Jun 19, 2012 5:44 pm

[quote="sallittjob"]Are you running an electronic ignition module? My bus had some funny idle issues when I installed a pertronix unit, have a read http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=437360

You might have something there ??? I will go snoop around the ol' dizzy and see what I might find. The old petronix vs points debate yes I have a petronix set up but honestly I'm not affraid of points I just like to simplify when ever possible. Thanks

Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:04 am

Baja,

If you have the time, swap the pertronix out for points and let me know if that solves your problem. I'd love to get to the bottom of my issue with the unit but from the responses I received in that other thread, it seems like I am the only one who's experienced (or maybe the only who noticed) the problem.

Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:03 pm

I just had the same symptoms after I reseated the valve cover because it started leaking. It stopped the leak but my idle was all over the place. Sometimes high sometimes low and sometimes hunting.
The seal looked good, but I swapped it out and decided to change the bale as well. Voila idling smooth again.