A fuel leak defies all efforts to find the source

[Satou]

The distributor cap seems to be resting crooked on its mount, but it won’t rest in what “should be” the proper straight manner and line up with the mount. Is this something to be concerned about?

Plus, after changing the oil last time, when I first started it up, the car had a hard time staying running when put into gear, and an inordinate amount of throttle was required to prevent the engine from dying. Is this indicative of an underlying issue, or is this to be expected?
The author of The Compleat Idiot’s Guide to Keeping Your Volkswagen Alive suggests always letting the car idle for a bit before driving it. Is this what he is addressing, or is it something I should be worried about?

Thanks for putting up with my dumb questions
_________________
“With your first project car, there will be many things you didn’t know you needed to know.”

[Cusser]

[Satou]

[quote="Cusser"]

[busdaddy]

There's 2 ways the cap goes on, only one lets it sit down on the distributor well, one side has a recess for a raised bump on the side of the distributor at one of the clips.
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[Zundfolge1432]

Insert tab A


Where my finger is pointing

Into tab B

Another view

[Satou]

[Satou]

Annnnnd now the engine won’t start. Period. Oil is good, distributor cap is on straight, but the engine refuses to do anything except turn over. Like I said before, it started with some starter fluid before, but had a hard time idling without throttle or going into gear. Any ideas?

Help!
_________________
“With your first project car, there will be many things you didn’t know you needed to know.”

[busdaddy]

If you had the cap on backwards (tabs not lining up) you'll have to swap the wires 180 degrees after you put it on the correct way. You can't just twist the cap and leave the wires as they were.
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[Satou]

That would make a lot of sense, and was probably a contributing factor, but still no dice (except for what sounded like a backfire while attempting to turn the engine over, which hasn’t happened before)
Thanks.
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“With your first project car, there will be many things you didn’t know you needed to know.”

[Satou]

I fixed it!
Turns out three of the wires from the distributor to the spark plugs were mixed up. I referred back to my handy-dandy wiring diagram, and got it all squared away, and it fired right up!
I’m very, very hopeful that this finally fixed it up.

Thanks for all your advice, it was very much appreciated
_________________
“With your first project car, there will be many things you didn’t know you needed to know.”

[Cusser]

[Satou]

Annnnnd, we’re back.
I had fired it up and let it run enough that I confirmed it worked but didn’t go past idle with the clutch in, so today was the first time that I actually took the car for a spin.
First, some context
Bumpy dirt road and a downward sloping grade to said road.
That being said…

Went out and started the car.
Car ran fantastically, idled with no issues.
Put it in gear, still no issues
Drove it down the driveway and partway along the dirt road, still no issues
Went over a particularly large bump, and the engine totally died.
The generator light came on, presumably because the engine died, but the oil pressure light is completely dead, and won’t light up, period
My best guess is that the bump tweaked something, loose connection etc.
It’s almost like the engine lost gas.
The new fuel pump I bought had an etched arrow pointing into the fuel pump. I assumed that was the gas tank to the fuel pump inlet, but maybe that was incorrect. Was I wrong, and fuel can’t flow backwards?

Plus, come to find out, two of the spark plug wires were swapped, but switching them back didn’t do anything.

I also have yet to adjust the carbeurator, mostly because I also have yet to get it running for a meaningful amount of time.

In summary: Car isn’t running again. Engine seemed to work perfectly until I went over a large bump, and now the engine won’t start at all. Oil pressure light doesn’t work, could be burnt out but might be a symptom of something bigger. Fuel pump lined may need to be reversed and carbeurator may need to be adjusted

Suggestions? The fact it ran well on smooth, level ground makes me wonder if something came loose while driving. No drips evident however. Electrical connection?

It’s kind of irritating this happened, but it all comes with a 50 year old car I suppose. Slow and steady
_________________
“With your first project car, there will be many things you didn’t know you needed to know.”

[busdaddy]

Well it wouldn't have made it 2 minutes if the lines were reversed so it seems the pump is plumbed correctly.
Quitting after a big bump says loose wiring somewhere, connect a test light to the #15 wire on the coil, turn on the key and start wiggling stuff I guess.....
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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[sb001]

If ever there was a thread that needed accompanying photos, it's this one
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I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[Satou]

Folks, know where all your wires go.
I sold another Beetle to a guy who knew what he was talking about, and turns out my coil wire has come undone. The connection was pretty bad and must have finally snapped when I went over that bump.
It fires right up again.
Now, to tune it up, and we should be good to go
(For real this time)
_________________
“With your first project car, there will be many things you didn’t know you needed to know.”

[ashman40]

[Satou]

I am absolutely positive that the spark plug wires are in the correct order. I mixed them up last time because the two lines had a plastic connector linking them behind the carbeurator, which caused me to mix them up.
Now, I have positively linked each spark plug wires with its correct placement
_________________
“With your first project car, there will be many things you didn’t know you needed to know.”

[Cornwallav8r]

[Cornwallav8r]

Sounds like a distributor to coil ignition wire knocked loose or similar. When you were in there working, it's very easy to knock plug wires loose, and even jar the distributor cap askew (as you found). For it to die suddenly, it's almost got to be electrical. Check the 12v wires on the coil, check the coil HV wire at both ends for tightness.

For fuel question, remove the air cleaner and cycle the throttle arm quickly, watching/listening for the accelerator pump to spray fuel directly into the throat. If it's doing that, the carb's getting fuel. Swapping plugs to no effect means either ignition entirely out for all plugs, or one or more plugs are fouled.

[Satou]

Turns out the coil wire was knocked loose. The engine is running a little rich, but I’ll just adjust it a bit
_________________
“With your first project car, there will be many things you didn’t know you needed to know.”