running problems - 1.3

im in need of some help please!
got a problem with my 1.3 golf ('84 mk2 formel E) that seems to happen only when its warm. basically, i'll be going aloing and its generally ok but can feel it losing power, then if i slow down atall i wont be able to get speed back up again. i can put my foot down a bit and nothing will happen, absolutely nothing. so obviously i start losing speed quite fast. it sometimes trys to get going again but just spluttersd a bit and still loses speed. if i change down the engine revs high as it would if you were engine breaking but the throttle position makes no difference to the revs or speed etc
so when this happened, i pulled over and it cut out. i left it maybe 10-20secs and restarted it. sometimes it will rev normally after some slight pumping on the pedal and sometimes it wont for a bit longer. but if it revs normally out of gear and you rev it up to like 5k a few times and then set off again it will be ok for another mile or 2, sometimes 3!
my first thought was the fueling, that it is sucking crappy fuel up. second thought was a card gasket or something
so can somebody help me please? atleast tell me if im looking the right direction
thanks!

Hi

Is this only happening when the weather is cold?  What may be happening the carb might be icing up. if you have the early air filter set up you need to face the air intake towards the exhaust manifold. If you have the later air filter set up you need to check the vacuum set up from the back of the carb to the change over valve under the air filter and that vacuum draws on the actuator. the vacuum change over valve changes depending on air temp. Also check the flexi pipe from the exhaust manifold to the air filter.

Hope this helps

ok cheers i'll have a look tomorrow!
thanks

I'm desperate as well!!
Bought my son a Mk1 1.3 1992 "chico" carb modelwith manual choke (South-Africa) Car went well until he experienced the same issues as above. Since then we have replaced (you'll love this) Fuelpump, fuel filters, hoses, new carburetor, airfilter, new coil, new ignition module, new electronic distributor, sparkplugs & leads + dist cap, cambelt……..AND  yes you've guessed it …the problem persists. Usually under power & going uphill, it sort of chokes & just dies. Only after about 5 to 10 minutes will it start again & go as if nothing was the matter…until the next time (about once or twice a day) It has the VW garage baffled!! So what else do I need to adress? You help will be appreciated.
regards M

Hi

As i described on an earlier post. Is the engine drawing warm air when the ambient temp is cold to stop carb icing. This probem fits the picture you painted

Hope this helps

Hi Ian,
Little chance of icing in mid-summer RSA
average temp = 15 degrees C in the mornings. 28 in the afternoon. New original airfilter+ housing was fitted last week by VW specialist. Trust the settings are correct. We thought it would solve the problem but alas.

doesnt have to be cold to get carb icing, in fact its worse when damp

The pressure decrease in the venturi of the carburetor causes cooling. Cooling causes condensation, as cool air can hold less water vapour than warm air.
Vaporization of the fuel requires heat, which is absorbed from the air, causing the air to cool further, and causing further condensation. The combined cooling may result in as much as a 30 C temperature drop in the carburetor.
Ice can therefore form when the outside air temperature is as high as 30 C, but the most likely temperatures for carb ice are between -5 C and 15 C. High humidity conditions will make the chances of carb icing even higher. The ice usually accumulates around the discharge nozzle, the venturi and the throttle valve, restricting fuel flow.

Hi Ian,John,

Been back to the VW service station. All airfilter intake settings are correct. They double checked for me (some or other "internal flap or valve" setting in the housing)
On the way home the engine died again, funnily enough at the very same spot it has done so a number of times in the past (around a sharpish left turn corner, uphill ) Called the garage immediately - aaahHa then there must be a worn or loose wire somewhere that's "earthing" out. Taking the car in to them next week - keep you posted.

hi there, i best interduce myself first as i'm new to the forum, my names steve, and run a mk2 golf 1.3 1984 c and a mk1 caddy. reading the problems put a smile on my face as u've been through all of this before myself. and now having come so close to dropping the engine out and into… well somewhere i'd never have to see it again, i'm in love with it again. ahaha. it runs as sweet as a nut!
First thing. as i'm sure you all know the carb. the auto choke never seems to work due to it being old and worn. i was told to do the following and have never looked back…. bite the bullet and buy a weber for it, i'm running a weber for a 1.6 mk2 engine as it was going cheap on ebay and it works and runs fine! that stopped the pain of starting it when its cold and a sticking coke. its a manual choke….easy to use so do it!
sounds to me mate that you had the same problem as i did coming home on the M11 after a parts run. running at about 60 all of a sudden it felt really under powered. i stopped and let her cool down. anyway it did it again once it got hot again. now the problem is… i should think your on points so the first thing to do is check the point gap. i know this off by heart now, its 0.40mm second thing to do which i found fixed it was to change the condenser. check that the plug leads are in good nick and the plugs, things like these make the car run like s**t when old or in need of changing. if you need any pics to help i'll be more than happy to get some up. i hope this helps, steve

Hi all,
Problem sorted. After all the hassles we found that the tiny fuel filter (under the backseat) was clogged. Intially that was the first thing we looked at. Yes it was clogged then as well so we didn't think that would be the problem just 2 days later. Where the "powdery" white grit comes from we have no idea. The tank seems clear of debris. We cleaned it out, reamed the holes on the little brass filter and now the little VDub goes like a rocket.

cheers guys, very helpful!