1981 Vanagon - Engine sputters and coughs but wont start
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:35 am
My new 81 Vanagon just arrived via transporter ('=D>')
from SoCal. to Ohio (I mention the move because it might have something to do with the problem; I know I would sputter and spit if somebody moved me that direction). It has spent most of its life in the LA area.
Got it off the trailer in Ohio and it was hard starting at first but it eventually did, but idled very low.
Drove it for 10 miles or so and it was ok. The next time I drove it later the same day, it sometimes had no guts above 3000 or so rpm. Then a little later it woudnt start. The battery was strong and I guess it was the new fuel pump that I was hearing, (I heard something whirring away any time the key was on,) but no life from the engine. After many cranks later, finally it sputtered and coughed like a chitty chitty bang bang Model T on a bad hair day. Minor little backfires and a whole lotta shakin goin on back there for 10 seconds then it would die. (':pukeleft:') Sometimes it would stay alive as long as I kept the revs way up, higher than they should have been with a cold engine, but as soon as I would quit revving or even eased up, it would die again.
Over and over again we did this dance until finally I had to go home alone. (':pale:')
It was recently checked over and had a new fuel pump added by a reputable repair shop in Atascadaro or Paso Robles or there abouts. It may not have been driven much in recent months. Could that fact or the change in climate have some bearing on this problem?
Where should I start? It may be an obvious problem, but I'm a real novice at this.
from SoCal. to Ohio (I mention the move because it might have something to do with the problem; I know I would sputter and spit if somebody moved me that direction). It has spent most of its life in the LA area.
Got it off the trailer in Ohio and it was hard starting at first but it eventually did, but idled very low.
Drove it for 10 miles or so and it was ok. The next time I drove it later the same day, it sometimes had no guts above 3000 or so rpm. Then a little later it woudnt start. The battery was strong and I guess it was the new fuel pump that I was hearing, (I heard something whirring away any time the key was on,) but no life from the engine. After many cranks later, finally it sputtered and coughed like a chitty chitty bang bang Model T on a bad hair day. Minor little backfires and a whole lotta shakin goin on back there for 10 seconds then it would die. (':pukeleft:') Sometimes it would stay alive as long as I kept the revs way up, higher than they should have been with a cold engine, but as soon as I would quit revving or even eased up, it would die again.
Over and over again we did this dance until finally I had to go home alone. (':pale:')
It was recently checked over and had a new fuel pump added by a reputable repair shop in Atascadaro or Paso Robles or there abouts. It may not have been driven much in recent months. Could that fact or the change in climate have some bearing on this problem?
Where should I start? It may be an obvious problem, but I'm a real novice at this.