Car wont idle right!!

My car was running fine yesterday but I thought id check my spark plugs and noticed they were very black so I tweaked the ignition timing putting it right and then adjusted the carb a little, it ran fine and so I left it. I then went for a longer drive today and it started struggling to idle and eventually kept stalling as soon as slowed down to and dipped the clutch to idle. I then stopped somewhere to try and check for anything disconnected because it was behaving exactly the same as when I forgot to reconnect the fuel cut-off on the carb. I tried readjusting the carb idle and mixture still it wouldnt idle and when on choke it would idle very erratically going up and down and even stalling at times but i let it cool and went on my way home and it seemed to be fixed, it idled high but only because i fiddled around with the carb and only nearly stalled once.
Could this be the fuel cut-off valve being faulty? I can only think that the other cause would be a vacuum leak but i cannot find one
Im really sick of this engine and with its piston rings worn needing a bottom end rebuild im ready to stick a lower mileage, more economical, faster and more reliable engine in

Just been out to move it into the garage and its doing it again so heres a video, right at the end i put the choke in slight which makes it die http://youtu.be/pkrcGkRE62k

Ive just tested the air cut-off valve and that doesnt seem to be the problem so im starting to suspect the fuel pump which i put in recently, it was a fairly cheap one off ebay so potentially could be the cause

Put old fuel pump back on and its exactly the same  cf_emoticons__BangHead:I can only think that its the engine block which is causing the issues, ive got exams to be revising for so really dont have the time to be trying to fix this thing right now cf_emoticons__BangHead:

if you have black plugs that is the co2 / fuel to air not timming. sounds like it needs a good tune up.

Yeah well it was running perfectly before and after I adjusted the carb, I might try and take it somewhere tomorrow to get it tuned up a bit but the problem seems to be getting worse as if its something else  

is the fuel filter clean inside ? should be to the left of the engine bay? and your filler neck ok?

Yeah fuel filter is fine as well as neck, its also not the carb flange as i recently fixed that,

might it be worth doing a compression test tomorrow? ive had to fit a catch can because lots of oil apour was getting into the inlet housing so i already know the piston rings are not great

Found some guy local to me who could set up the carb properly and he did do a good job for a tenner but I cant help but notice that the engine is really lacking power and is slowly dieing at the worst possible time for me  

Hi dude,

This sounds like the classic "split carb base gasket" problem.

As you slow down it lets air in under the carb, weakening the mixture and causing the car to stall.

A new base gasket will sort this issue almost certainly!

You can test this theory, by running the car parked up and spray carb cleaner or wd40 at the base of the carb. If the engine note changes (picks up) the carb is sucking the spray in and using it as fuel - indicating a split there.

Let me know what engine size it is, and i'll send you a link for the base gasket - or give us a call on 01444 251270

Andy  

they say they have already done the flange on the carb.  

I can see why it seems like a flange issue because that exactly what i thought at first, but Its quite an intermittent problem because it seemed to be fixed after i got it tunes up but then went back to the same issuem so i have just checked everything over and i was pushing all the ignition leads in and one just slid in more than the others so i started it up and it ran perfectly   so now i feel like an idiot but lesson learnt, check all the simple stuff first!
Thanks for the help    

Problem NOT fixed   I tried going somewhere today and as soon as it warmed up and I tried taking the choke off it wouldn't idle again!! 

I'm still voting flange - these can get bent if not fitted carefully, and then wont seal flush on the manifold.
Also check the inlet manifold gasket for leaks.

By running on choke you are richening the mixture, and compensating for an air leak somewhere, hence why it only runs on choke.

Get the WD40 out and start spraying all your joins.
As a really quick test smear them all in LM grease as that will stop the air ingress for a moment or two - of course it will melt off pretty quick, but may prove where the leak is coming from. You could do this with some engine sealer if you prefer - but thats a bit messier!!

Also you mention the engine is slowly dying.. a loss of compression due to worn rings won't be helping matters.

Andy

Mine did this too bud. Would idle fine with the choke out a little and some days it would run fine, others it would die when you put the clutch in coming up to junctions. I checked for a vacuum leak over and over and tried a new carb base, and had no luck so I think there must have been another issue with it.. eventually got  cf_emoticons__BangHead:ed off and efi'd my 1.3 haha. Really isn't the best time for it to start playing up though. Mines making a drive, brake or bearing squeal on tight turns, gunna leave early for college before exams just in case  Just realised none of that was helpful… if it were me I would find a low mileage mk4 golf with an ABD 1.4 SPi engine and install a GT cam and injection in it over the summer hols or strip out your engine over the summer and do a complete rebuild and get a new carb but TBH although it would be original then, it would probably work out more expensive but you will learn a lot Maybe do what I did and find all the EFI bits from a multi point digijet or digifant polo MK3?

Still not helpful cf_emoticons__BangHead:Take it to someone who knows what they are doing and give them some money and ace the A levels? Thats what I would do because in the long run what's some cash when you cant get into the uni/ job you want because your awesome MK1 golf broke down on the day of your most important exam    Good luck bud  P.S. I still have two 34ich carbs here and the fitting kit. I think all you'd need is a rebuild kit and a few jets. Unfortunately the ideal emulsion tube for a 1.3 seems to be obsolete and I don't have one I'd let them go for a good price. Or if you want to pay postage on my old solex you can borrow it to see if its any better? It was actually running almost perfectly come the end! not sure if it was the change in weather or something! But had the EFI stuff so wasn't going to say no to that haha. Its got a good rubber base on it. Sorry none of this is really that helpful, I just know your frustration! And although it is really satisfying to strip down and fix a carb on the side of the road when it plays up and the car dies, but its not really the best time! 

Well this is my dilemma, I need to concentrate on exams, once exams are over I'm going to buy a polo with a 1.4 16v in and put that in because I'm really sick of the lack of power and unreliability of my car. 
Thinking about it I might strip the carb and check the idle jet because I've not checked that yet and it seems to be a big possibility.

I don't believe it is the carb flange because it was new last year and I recently took it apart and checked the flange and its been fine for a few weeks. 
The problem seems too  promenant for it to be just a vacuum leak because I tan it for a week without the vacuum hose connected at the back and I've been using it for a few months with the carb flange leaking but this problem is really making driving impossible! I'll check the idle jet when I'm home and report back    

Strip down and boil in citric acid/ lemon juice? usually does the trick Hideous smell though   Yeah I was tempted by a 1.4 16v but I think I'm gunna stick with my 1.3 as its definitely got more guts with EFI on, just the main problem with them is the serious lack of low end grunt! Had 100 reading on the speedo going up hill last week. Private land of course. was really impressed with the old girl  

Wow well I think I might give my engine more of a chance then if that possible! I've stripped the jets off it and unblocked one hole but not fixed it I stripped it down further and gave some parts a clean and now tried to start it up and now fuel is pouring in!  so something is broken or stuck but not sure what?! 

Okay that problem has gone but the idling problem is still there so I'm just about ready to give up :/