Carburetors, chokes, fuel pumps and all that.............

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Thu May 14, 2009 1:23 pm

Hiya All,

Well the Bugs pretty much all back together and, for the most part, running very well. However, I am having a problem with the car dieing at stop lights. However, this only happens when it is warmed up. Matter of fact it's a very progressive kinda phenomena. Cold - no problem. Warm - dash warning lights flicker and engine cuts out sporadically as light is approached. Hot - dash warning lights on early and engine always cuts out before a complete stop.

Now I'm thinking I gotta check out the choke.

But, does anybody else out there in IACland have a different take on this? Any other possibilities as the source for this particular problem? Any helpful hints in dealing with the choke?

Engine has 100 miles on it. Timed to specs. Carb is fresh from keifernet. Manifold preheat tubes are clear. Air filter rebuilt (all parts fuctioning and thermo cable hooked up). Runs great at idle when cold.

spiffy · Post by **spiffy** » Thu May 14, 2009 2:38 pm

sounds like something is causing it to run rich after warm up.

Check the choke adjustment and be sure the other doohickey is operating......you know the one with the wire hooked to it.

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Thu May 14, 2009 2:43 pm

Hiya Spiff,

spiffy wrote:sounds like something is causing it to run rich after warm up.

Yep, my thought exactly. I can only guess that the choke is the culprit here. That was the reason for the question in the first place. Maybe there is a possibility that I'm overlooking?

Check the choke adjustment.....

It will be done!

.....and be sure the other doohickey is operating......you know the one with the wire hooked to it.

Oh yeah..........that gizmo whatchamacallit thingee. I'll take a close look at it.

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Sun May 17, 2009 8:08 am

Sounds like mixture or timing. Or even point gap.

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Sun May 17, 2009 8:44 am

Hiya Bob,

hambone wrote:Sounds like mixture or timing. Or even point gap.

I'm pulling the engine today. Man, I just cannot get enough of this take the engine out and put it in business. I think I'm permanently whacked.

Anyway, I'll go through all that and test the fuel pump pressure before I do the removal thing today. Thanks for the suggestions O Guru of the Smoothly Running Engine!

What fun!

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Sun May 17, 2009 8:55 am

Why the hell are you pulling the engine again?
If I can help then let me know...of course I'm working today.

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:01 am

Hiya Bob,

hambone wrote:Why the hell are you pulling the engine again?

Hey! I already told ya. I'm permanently whacked!

Actually I gotta replace that honking clutch assembly that never did seat in correctly. Still getting chatter after going through CK's sand it and clean it routine. Something off in the clutch fingers I suspect. On top of that I'm sometimes getting a gassy smell from the around the back of the Bus (not in the engine compartment strangely) and I want to take another look behind the tank firewall just to make everything's in good shape back there.

If I can help then let me know...of course I'm working today.

Hah! Well at least I'll be out in the sunshine doing something I want to do. I did mention that I'm permanently whacked, didn't I?

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:07 am

Have you replaced the gas cap gasket? Our Beetle smelled horribly gassy and it was the gasket. (I actually just flipped it over and glued a crack, smell gone)

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:12 am

Hiya Bob,

Yep, did that during the rebuild.

The gas cap well does smell a bit gassy, but I'd expect that. My wife (whose nose is much better than my own) tells me that the gassy smell seems to be coming from the crescent engine compartment vents on either side of the Bus. And remember, this is with no smell in the engine compartment proper.

This just strikes me a being plain weird. I thought it just might be from the charcoal emissions canister or its hosing. Nope. Everything there is nice and tight and smell-free. Just weird I tells ya.

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:22 am

It would mesh with the "running rich" theory.
Also check the carb mounting nuts for tightness.

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:29 am

Hiya Bob,

hambone wrote:It would mesh with the "running rich" theory.

Indeed, that had crossed my mind.

...Also check the carb mounting nuts for tightness.

Willco!

Ever deeper in your debt.

dtrumbo · Post by **dtrumbo** » Sun May 17, 2009 6:36 pm

Bookwus wrote:... the gassy smell seems to be coming from the crescent engine compartment vents on either side of the Bus. And remember, this is with no smell in the engine compartment proper.

This just strikes me a being plain weird. I thought it just might be from the charcoal emissions canister or its hosing. Nope. Everything there is nice and tight and smell-free. Just weird I tells ya.

I have the exact same issue. It's weird that the smell comes out the vents. It is less, if at all, noticeable in the engine compartment proper. I guess those vapors (or is that vapours) rise instead of fall. Even after changing the canister with the one you sent, I still have the problem. I'm hoping a rebuild kit in the other carb that I didn't do last winter will fix it.

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Sun May 17, 2009 6:54 pm

Hiya Dick,

dtrumbo wrote:....I have the exact same issue.

Oh, this a whole new dimension of wierd.

I've always been led to believe that hydrocarbons are actually heavier than the surrounding air and will "fall" through the air. That's why one never wants to have an open container of gasoline in a garage that houses a gas water heater. The pilot light could ignite a heavy concentration of hydrocarbons as they flow/creep along the floor.

I'm guessing that the hot engine compartment air escaping through the crescent vents is "carrying" the hydrocarbons out. But even if that were the case, wouldn't the engine compartment also smell gassy?

It's a mystery to me.

Anyway, I'm pulling the engine and I'll let you know if I find anything behind the tank wall thast might be a source for these fumes.

dtrumbo · Post by **dtrumbo** » Sun May 17, 2009 7:08 pm

Sounds good. When you find it, you're more than welcome to come pull my engine and do the same procedure. Since you like pulling engines and all... just sayin'.

Bookwus · Post by **Bookwus** » Sun May 17, 2009 7:11 pm

Hiya Dick,

dtrumbo wrote:......Since you like pulling engines and all... just sayin'.

A side benefit of being permanently whacked out.

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Carburetors, chokes, fuel pumps and all that.............

Carburetors, chokes, fuel pumps and all that.............