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karmann ghia 67 Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2013 Posts: 9 Location: france
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:20 am Post subject: Starting problems |
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My ghia struggles to restart when it’s hot, any ideas |
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sctbrd Samba Member

Joined: May 06, 2013 Posts: 283 Location: Moravia, Czech Republic
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:49 am Post subject: Re: Starting problems |
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Use non-additive gasoline E0 or E5 (Premium 98 or 100, depending what you have available in FR), or ETBE additive instead of ethanol. The additives and ethanol boil at lower temperatures, and the engine compartment after shutting off can be 60C or higher, causing vapor in the lines.
Drain any old gas, use gasoline stabilizer.
Make sure fuel lines are away from hot areas (exhaust, motor casing).
Put insulation on fuel lines on suction of pump, to carbs. This will help keep gas in the lines from vaporing off.
https://fmic.eu/30295-silicone-heat-insulation-sleeve-6mm-10cm-section-th-sleeve06-100.html
I am fighting this with modern gasoline also, here in CZ. Adding fuel line insulation changed my fuel pump temperature after shutoff from 65C to 40C.
I also rotated my distributor clockwise (more retarded) just a little bit- about 1mm on the outer edge of the cap.
It turns over much faster now, overcoming the cylinder compression easier when hot, so any empty fuel lines fill faster.
(My car is 6 volt, with high compression engine, so it really needs the extra help). |
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Era Vulgaris Samba Member

Joined: August 22, 2012 Posts: 1915 Location: Raleigh, NC
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 5:06 am Post subject: Re: Starting problems |
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Next time you stop the car when it's fully warmed up, quickly get out and remove the air filter neck off the carb, and see if you can see fuel dripping down the throat of the carb.
A fuel pump that puts out fuel pressure that's too high will force fuel past the needle valve, and flood the engine after you turn it off, making it difficult to start when hot. But if you let the car sit until it's cool, it'll have no problem starting because the excess fuel will have evaporated by then.
I had this exact problem on the 67 I used to own. Shimming the fuel pump with extra gaskets brought the fuel pressure down which stopped this from happening. _________________ Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD
Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue |
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PeteSC Samba Member

Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 930
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:42 am Post subject: Re: Starting problems |
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Struggling to start how? Like the starter struggles to turn over the engine, or engine turns over as normal but won't fire? |
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