Wont idle

[worm]

Hey guys

Trying to get the old girl back on the rd as she hasnt been doing much.

Wont idle unless I have the choke fully open. When I go to accelerate it splutters and pops. It only drives normal when I have the throttle wide open, as soon as you back off and coast it starts to shutter/splutter VERY bad (like its running on 3 cylinders.. or even 2!) feels like it has a flat spot when u very lighty touch the throttle, then I press a bit harder and it pops into life like i just hit full boost.
I replaced the fuel filter and all spark plugs to no avail. I was thinking some sort of fuel problem.. busted fuel pump maybe? But that wouldnt explain why it idles on full choke would it?

Is there a way to test the fuel pump without replacing it?

Any other suggestions as to the cause

cheers
Lee

[gtimk5]

Hi. Which one is it, the orange Golf? A worn out fuel pump wouldn't allow it to rev. Could be a large air leak or only the wire off the air cutoff valve. That wire can breayand also not supply voltage to the jet. They generally don't run below 1500 RPM when that happens.

[worm]

It may well be an air leak. Just before it started playing up something exploded under the bonnet and then it started to sound as if I had busted a hole in the exhaust manifold. After closer inspection looks as though the exhaust manifold and gasket are ok.
Its weird.. i leave the car sitting for a few days and it will run fine for about 1 km, then run crap.
BTW, the golf is a carbie.

[gtimk5]

Ahh. There is a plug in the rear of the carby facing the firewall. Bet its fallen out. You need to make up another one to go in there. Let us all know
cheers Andrew

[smithy010]

Mine was missing that plug for about 3 months, and ran like a hairy goat while it was missing, not as bad as your problem sounds though.

Get a piece of sheet metal or a 1c piece and peen it in there, then glue it to seal. (another piece of advice that i found on this forum).

[worm]

It has a dellorto on it. Dont think it has this problem.
I might make up a new air filter for it, the one it has is shagged. I took it off and started the car and it made no difference, might have a hole in it.
Or it might be leaking around the gasket/flex plate as there is a pretty large gap around the carbie and manifold.. it also has a bolt missing/stripped thread that holds the carbie to the manifold

[gtimk5]

The plot thickens! Fix the stud first.

[el_foolio]

ive got a similar problem, car wont idle (also wont run below 1500rpm), and still got a minor overheating problem (despite G11) sorry to hijack your thread, but seemed pointless to start another about a car with a similar problem...

[el_foolio]

checked for that wire on the back of the carb, but couldnt find one facing the firewall... And interestingly enough while i was there i found a wire coming off one of the distributor prongs that goes to nothing... hmmm

[worm]

Had some time to tinker with the car. After reading it may be an air leak i decided to have a look.
It has always had a fairly large gap between the carbie and manifold (flex plate?) and has a bolt missing due to a striped thread in the manifold. Anyways, filled the top half of the gap with silicon and ordered a new air filter. Took the car out today and it seemed to run better. Once I put the new airfilter on and silicon the rest of it up i reckn it will be good to go!

If that fixes the problem then ill get the carb rebuilt/tuned and refitted properly. If it doesnt fix it.... ill torch it!