Sputtering and stalling - ? electrical, ? fuel system

[txrocco@sbcglobal.net (ATS - Patrick Bureau)]

I would change (if not done already) in order

1. air filter
2. fuel filter
3. plugs
4. check wires and replace
5. change alternator voltage regulator
6. check/clean carburetors or FI intake
7. Reset the timing




ATS - Patrick Bureau - txrocco@sbcglobal.net


=>-----Original Message-----
=>From: scirocco-l-admin@scirocco.org
=>[mailto:scirocco-l-admin@scirocco.org]On Behalf Of James Reed
=>Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 10:38 AM
=>To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
=>Subject: Sputtering and stalling - ? electrical, ? fuel system
=>
=>
=>Hi,
=>
=>I've just bought a 1985 Scirocco 1.8 GTX. Generally it's running fine
=>but it seems to have an intermittent problem when running from cold (and
=>usually in damp conditions).
=>
=>The engine will start and run for a while ok, but then at low revs the
=>engine will stutter and eventally stall, often with some pops and bangs
=>from the exhaust. Immediately afterwards it has trouble starting, but
=>after 10 - 20s it starts fine and then may do the same again at the next
=>stop. I can get around this to some extent by keeping the revs high
=>while driving and revving the engine while at a standstill. After a
=>while driving with high revs the problem seems to go away, and the car
=>can be driven for some time afterwards with no problems.
=>
=>I've been wondering if this is an electrical problem - the car has a
=>voltmeter, and trouble is accompanied by the voltage dropping to about
=>9-10V while the car coughs and chokes (or is this just a consequence of
=>the stalling, rather than a cause?). I've noticed that the voltage is
=>affected by running electrical things (heated windscreen, fan heater
=>etc) and particularly flicks up and down when the indicators are on. Is
=>this normal, or could it indicate a dodgy battery? The local emporium
=>has put the battery tester on and it came out ok, but this was after a
=>long run. Given that the problem goes away after a while, could this
=>indicate that the battery has charged up a bit and is working properly
=>again? There is seldom much problem actually starting the car in the
=>first place, usually it is on the turn of the key.
=>
=>The other idea I have had from reading the archives is a fuel filter or
=>fuel pump problem. Would this cause similar symptoms? Would they also
=>resolve after the car has been driven for a while?
=>
=>I know I could eliminate the battery being at fault by getting a new
=>one, but at £45 it would be a tenth of what I paid fro the car (£450!)
=>so a high proportion if the problem persists!
=>
=>I'd be very interested to hear any suggestions. It's going in to the
=>garage (not VW agent!) later in the week for a check over, so would be
=>good to have a few suggestions for them.
=>
=>Thanks in advance,
=>
=>James
=>
=>
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