Running, making its own electricity, not leaking coolant, but now misfiring!

Hi,

Finally got my Jetta running after it turned out both my Alternator and Battery had died. In the mean time I had my head gasket and cam belt done, and a full service with new rad and thermostat.

Got the new battery on tonight and she started up fine, didn't seem to pick up the revs on choke as much though, it used to proper rev on full choke, was definitely misfiring too, could hear the exhaust popping. once she'd warmed up I slowly let the choke off, and with no choke she was reluctant to idle and would cut out unless I blipped the revs. I racked my brains and remembered my mate had blocked off the little vacuum pipe on the airbox as the pipe kept coming off. I put it back on and it seemed to idle better and didn't cut out. Took her for a quick drive around the block and it proper misfired, really jolted the car when accelerating in second.

Its worth noting that I had driven it since having the cam belt done and it ran fine, I drove it for 2 miles with no issue.

Anyone got any ideas? Could it be timing even though it seemed to run ok on the day the cambelt was done? As I say I had only driven it 2 miles home.

As it stands I've got a car I've had since November, but one thing after another has meant I've barely driven it! Really want to get it on the road now!

Cheers for any help, a few things to check would be greatly appreciated!

My car does a similar thing- jolty when accelerating. In fact jolty full stop without choke. 
I think it may be an air leak. Defiantly  worth checking the timing in your case though. 

Thanks mate, my mates going to check it as I have no idea, then I will go down the air leak route and check all pipes.

r_chez_08 said

My car does a similar thing- jolty when accelerating. In fact jolty full stop without choke. 
I think it may be an air leak. Defiantly  worth checking the timing in your case though. 

Had the same- went down the tank change, new fuel and still didn't help.
Ended up having the carb off, cleaned (blowing through the lines) and fingers crossed its all fine now.
Worth checking the carbs flange is not perished (rock it back and forward on and see if the engine idles differently). I changed out the O ring.
Good luck sorting it…bought mine and had issues for a month until I did the carb clean…cheap fix I wish I'd looked at before I changed the tank…oh well, at least that nice and new now I suppose

rosslpenny said

r_chez_08 said

My car does a similar thing- jolty when accelerating. In fact jolty full stop without choke. 
I think it may be an air leak. Defiantly  worth checking the timing in your case though. 

Had the same- went down the tank change, new fuel and still didn't help.
Ended up having the carb off, cleaned (blowing through the lines) and fingers crossed its all fine now.
Worth checking the carbs flange is not perished (rock it back and forward on and see if the engine idles differently). I changed out the O ring.
Good luck sorting it…bought mine and had issues for a month until I did the carb clean…cheap fix I wish I'd looked at before I changed the tank…oh well, at least that nice and new now I suppose

Thanks mate, will check carb over if the timing doesn't sort it!

Sorted, Timing was out by about 3cm ish to the left (towards bulkhead) quick twist of the dizzy and she's running like a good'n…. thats 30 years old.