'70 Engine Shudder/Stall

[dsluder13]

Alright, here's some background:

I took a six week road trip in my girlfriend's car and left my car to sit for six weeks. We get back, and it starts up beautifully. I drive it around, and it shudders a bit every once and a while (always when you're pressing down the gas), but it used to do that a little before the trip so it doesn't phase me too much. (I know it should, but money and time are a precious commodity at the moment) It has now gotten progressively worse - about half the time that you're pressing down the gas (mostly in third gear, a little bit in late second gear) the car seems to shake a little bit. There are even times when the it sounds like a plug doesn't fire (silence for a half second or so) - this is rare but happens once or twice a day.

Yesterday, it started doing the same and then the engine just shut off as I was pulling into a gas station (how serendipitous!). It started right back up (it has no problems while idling or while in gear, but without pressing on the gas), and drove back home without any problems.

Recently I got some water in my gas tank, so I drained it and cleaned the lines, put new gas in it, popped in some of that "water remover" and all was well. I changed my oil recently as well. Other than that, nothing has changed on it, and it is driving SO MUCH worse than before.

So engine/car shudders only when the gas is pressed, mostly in third, some in second gear - especially going up a hill. It stalled once yesterday. After starting back up, it drove fine to my house (which was 2 minutes away and I only got to second gear).

[frenchy47]

First quit driving it til you can figure out what is going on. No sense doing more damage that will just cost more money to fix. Now with the shudder is there any engine noise to accompany it?

Does it do it if the car is in neutral and you rev it or is it just under a load?

Have you checked ur timing?

Stock or modified motor?

Is the shudder constant or spuradic? Violent or mild?

[dsluder13]

Thanks for the reply.

It's been sitting since yesterday, and I'm going to do everything I can to NOT drive it.

No engine noise that I can hear to accompany the shudder - just general car shake with the rare plug mis(non?)fire.

In neutral and with revving, it doesn't do it - only under load.

I haven't ever checked my timing before and am not completely sure how to do it. I did some research before posting this and it's on my list, I just haven't jumped that hurdle yet.

The motor is stock - got the car a couple years ago and it's regular as far as I can tell.

Shudder is generally mild - sometimes you just think the car is riding a little rough when the road is actually smooth. There have been a few times when it gets a bit rougher than that, but when it shudders, it's usually pretty mild. The shudder is mostly sporadic - it used to happen relatively rarely, but yesterday it started doing it a lot - most of the time I had the gas pedal past half way and/or I was going up a hill.

Thanks!

[ashman40]

[dsluder13]

I've changed the oil a couple times, checked the plugs, replaced fuel filters and fuel line, but never checked the timing, adjusted the valves, etc. It's not driven that much.

I'll check some of the simpler stuff tomorrow - then get into the more complicated (for me) stuff over the weekend - if anyone has ideas as to what exactly to check though, let me know!

Thanks!

[Paul Windisch]

I would start with the points, cap, rotor, wires and spark plugs, specifically the points. If they aren't functioning properly, they will make the engine run like crap.
_________________
*ASE Recertified Master Automotive Tech*

1984 Mexican Beetle
-1914cc
-L3 Heads 35x32 valves 52cc chambers
-0.040" deck for about 9.1:1 Compression
-Engle W110 cam
-CB Super Stock 1.1:1 Rockers
-Stock Heat Exchangers w/ Tri-Mil Muffler
-Dual Weber IDF 40s w/ 26mm venturis
-034 SVDA Distributor

2013 Chevrolet Volt DD
2005 Pontiac Montana SV6

MAHLE Service Solutions
Applications Engineer

[dansan1988]

[ashman40]

You really need this link:

http://www.vw-resource.com/index.html

For specifically the tune-up:
http://www.vw-resource.com/tune-up.html

Read and follow and you will be one step closer to being a "VW Guru"
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}