what happened?

[71SuprDub]

i drove my bug around town today and everything was alright. i finnaly got home and went inside and came out about an hour and a half later and started it up. then it died. to keep it running i have to keep holding the gas pedal down. can someone help me out here. i dont know what happened, it was running fine.
*just a side point it was like 95 degrees out, dont know if that will help any or it that matters

[[email protected]]

i have the same exact problem and it happened after i overheated. it used to have that problem then i got a tune up(timing, valve adjustement, and fixed a vacuume leak)

[71SuprDub]

did you do it yourself? if not how much for the shop to do it? is it difficult?
im new to vws but i'll give it a shot

[Jeff H]

71SuperDude;

Try cleaning your idle/pilot jet. It's on the right side of the carb, just above the generator (assuming it's a stocker in your 71. That jet is TINY, and just about any little imperfection can clog it, causing your car to NOT idle.

It's free, it's easy, and hopefully that's the problem.


JSH

[57bugman]

get the john muirs how to fix my vw book for the complete idiot. dont feel dumb buying it. alot of us have one, its a great way to start doing some easy maitnence on your beetle and save $$$$. its fun also!! i still reference my book at times. have fun josh

[71SuprDub]

ya i just got that book today. looks cool and simple. ill check the idle pilot jet today.

[71SuprDub]

i checked the pilot jet, it looked clear.
the engine starts ok and will idle for about 3 seconds fine, then it starts to sputter and the rpms drop then it dies.
i need help
thanks

[Jeff H]

You might have a vacume leak somewhere. Do you know how to check for that? You might also have a worn throttle shaft housing on the carb. There could be a number of things, so it's kind of a process of elimination.

Also, don't assume the pilot jet is clear. It probably is, but it doesn't take much to plug that little rascal.


JSH

[71SuprDub]

no i dont know how to check for a vacume leak
thanks again

[keifernet]

if it is not the pilot jet, check the electromagnetic idle solenoid,
( left side of 34 - pict carb or 30/31 replacement carb. the symptoms are nearly identical)

make sure it has power to it..., it should "click" when the key is on and you unplug the wire to it and touch it back to the spade plug-in terminal. also see if it is loose / not screwed into the carb body tight.

[57bugman]

71SuprDub said... (7/25/2003 at 8:31PM PST)

i checked the pilot jet, it looked clear.
the engine starts ok and will idle for about 3 seconds fine, then it starts to sputter and the rpms drop then it dies.
i need help
thanks

might need a rebuild. kits are cheap enough, wont hurt to do. there is alot of passages internal that could get dirt also. might be a lil more than your ready for at this point...but keifer is giving you great advice also. does the car stay running if you introduce some more fuel supply, not gas but a squirt of carb clean...down the throat?? if so, check fuel supply, first clogged/dirty fuel filter. cheap enough if not sure on it, put a new one in. i had the same problem with my oval, but its a lil different carb set up. it ended up bieng it just needed a good cleaning. took it all apart. sprayed the jets , idle valve and passages out out real good with carb cleaner. then blew it out with some compressed air good. did this process a couple times. put back together with new gasketsthat come with the kit , runs like a champ! maybe first check your fuel mixture setting. the muirs book explains the procces real good. get that beetle going and enjoy it!! good luck , josh

[71SuprDub]

i havent tried to spray carb cleaner down the throat,
is the rebuild hard?
ill read up on the fuel mixture setting
thanks again

[57bugman]

the rebuild isnt that hard realy to me . there is several small parts, but the old vw carbs are real basic, lol! if you never tackled one it might seem like a bigger job if you never have taken one apart. practice on a old one, even a lawn mower carb will give you a feel for what its about. muirs does a nice exploded view of them to help you out. read up on it and see if your up for it. josh

[Jeff H]

71Super;

Keifernet has a good point about the cut-off solenoid.

Checking for vacume leaks is pretty simple. Get a can of carb cleaner and, with the engine running, spray a little around the carb - specifically, around the throttle shaft, where the carb bolts to the intake pipe, etc. *If the engine revs up while you're spraying a specific thing, that's where your vacume leak is.

[keifernet]

Actually it would help if 71superdub would post what kind of carb/engine he has.
Jeff to add to your knowledge of the pilot jet thing, do you know about/have you ran across the "overtightend pilot jet" syndrome? this is where someone has overtightend the pilot jet and stretched the threads/smashed the end of the jet too deep in the fitting on the carb body. with the jet installed and "tight" fuel cannot flow past the end... it gives the same symptom as a blocked pilot jet. the "trick" is to run the engine and "back out" the pilot jet a smidge, you will then hear the engine pick up speed and come to life!
Then you can use a drop of blue loctite to hold the jet in that "sweet spot" and tune the carb as normal again.... because it will be all out of whack from someone trying to get it to Idle.
I have saved many a bad 34 pict 3 with that symptom... just thought I would pass that on if you diddn't know, you seem like the kind of guy who likes to have all the knowledge you can and you do share what you know very well, I enjoy your posts. cya K

[71SuprDub]

pretty sure it a stock 1600 single port, the carb is a h30/31 pict

[71SuprDub]

i checked the elecromagnetic valve and it didnt click, so i took it out and looked at in then put it back in, then i checked it again and it worked, it seems to idle ok now but havent driven it around yet,
thanks

[keifernet]

sometimes they don't ground well in the body of the carb, if they are slightly loose they will not click or may work intermittantly, or it could be a sign that it is weak ( the electromagnet part which pulls the plunger in when key is turned on) and you may need a new one.

[71SuprDub]

is this problem common or does it happen happens rarely? is it going to go out soon or will it last a little while longer?
thanks

[keifernet]

I consider it common but I mess with lots Vw's,,

who knows? it may have been loose in the carb, you were there you took it out right? ;)

it is less than 15 bucks, score a spare when you can!