TheSamba.com :: View topic - Running situation (now light gray smoke)-SOLVED-

Tue May 13, 2008 9:21 am

please help...
last night,
the guy that bought my super finally got the motor in and gen. charging,changed the oil, all cooling tin on and we set the timing with his engine then he went on his way home... drove about 4 miles, stopped to get gas. When he went to take off the car was hard to start but finally did... He drove another 3 or so miles and the engine died on him right when he got home and wouldn't start. Well this morning he went out and it started right up....he hasn't drivien it again to see if it will do it again as he's sure something is up and it will do it again and he wants to solve the issue before causing more possible engine damage by driving it.

... Any idea's :lol:

1600dp
009dist.
h30/31 carb.

Tue May 13, 2008 10:37 am

Is it a fuel or ignition problem?

If it was ignition I would be looking at the coil/condensor.

Tue May 13, 2008 11:01 am

he said he believes it's a fuel probelm
has an elec. fuel pump
but I never had these problem when I owned it with my engine in it

could it be a valve issue once the engine is at opp. temp ?

Tue May 13, 2008 11:10 am

Facet type pump or is it a rotary type pump?

Rotary pump would be a better choice if it were me.

Tue May 13, 2008 11:13 am

it's a rotary pump

Tue May 13, 2008 11:34 am

How is the pump powered up?

If it is powered from the coil, I would do something different.

Tue May 13, 2008 11:40 am

Warm it up, then shut it down. Now look into the carb to see if it's dripping fuel while sitting. It sounds like there may be a bad needle and seat in that carb.

Tue May 13, 2008 2:17 pm

Randy in Maine wrote: How is the pump powered up?
If it is powered from the coil, I would do something different.
has a direct + and grounded to the body
SRP1 wrote: Warm it up, then shut it down. Now look into the carb to see if it's dripping fuel while sitting. It sounds like there may be a bad needle and seat in that carb.
excuse my ignorance
what exactly is that :oops:
is that the thing the float in the bowl hits to stop fuel from flowing in the bowl?

Tue May 13, 2008 2:48 pm

Yes that is the needle and seat valve.

Wed May 14, 2008 6:12 pm

He took the carb apart and it was clean considering it's a new carb. and dist. ( i should have mentioned that) :oops:
But he went ahead and cleaned everything out also checked the needle valve and it's working fine. He put it back together and took it for a ride and after a few min. of riding the problem arose again.
Now....I was thinking it could be the coil too as it's not new and appears to be a generic auto (non-vw type) coil
...or perhaps the points condenser (it's new too) but hey, it could be faulty....

Wed May 14, 2008 6:18 pm

I had a bad distributor cap that did exactly that. As soon as the cap heated up the car would not start easy and would sometimes just die.

Also when the motor overheats it has exactly the same symptoms you said. Check your flaps if you have them and check the oil temp if you can.

Wed May 14, 2008 6:49 pm

pizzle....did you vent that poly fuel tank you installed?

Wed May 14, 2008 6:54 pm

bugninva wrote: pizzle....did you vent that poly fuel tank you installed?
it came with a vented cap and I never had this issue with my engine,but I had the same thought

Thu May 15, 2008 9:17 pm

problem solved:

...it was just a bunk coil

Thu May 15, 2008 9:34 pm

Very nice detective work there. :D

Thu May 15, 2008 9:39 pm

he's very happy cause now he gets to cruse in his first aircooler and his newest toy ride...and i feel better as I sold him the super and the engine I included in the deal is one I got from my latest project and was told "it runs" and I was starting to wonder if the engine was bunk and I felt I was looking like a crook to my friend so it's a big relief to me as well :P I told him about my relief and why and he said "even if the engine was bunk he was still happy with the deal"... ahhh friends

Sat May 17, 2008 1:32 pm

well after 2 days of driving it the problem has come back.
is it possible if the points are not adjusted correctly ,can it cause damage to the coil ?
Also,how to you adj. points ? :roll:

Sat May 17, 2008 2:13 pm

Sounds like a condensor may be going as well........... Might as well just do a whole tuneup, condensor, points, cap, rotor, everything.

Sat May 17, 2008 2:27 pm

RattieFattie wrote: well after 2 days of driving it the problem has come back.
is it possible if the points are not adjusted correctly ,can it cause damage to the coil ?
Also,how to you adj. points ? :roll:

Hmmm bummer! ](*,)

Seems to me I had this problem about 25 years ago on a VW, turned out to be the fuel pump. When it got hot and you would stop the thing, I don't know I guess it would vapor lock or something, Changed the pump and problem solved. if you have another pump try that, otherwise the next time it does it check for spark at that time. Condenser could be at fault for sure.

Sat May 17, 2008 6:28 pm

ok well go over those things...

another ?...
what would cause pure white smoke when the engine is reved to come from the exhaust ? it dissipates quickly so I was thinking condensation but it does it worse when the engine is at opp. temps.