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Hi.im new to this site and i must say im already very impressed! I was just wondering if anyone out there would be able to help.Iv just bought a T25 Panel Van(1983,a reg,aircooled,2ltr petrol) that has been DIY converted into a camper(perfect for me!)however,i bought her cheap as she had no mot,passed fine but now has developed a engine problem.She splutters alot,sometimes doesnt start and sometimes runs on just 2valves instead of 4.I called out RAC and they advised me to replace the rotor arm,i did so and it ran fine for a few days then the problem returned.i am in the process of changing the HT leads and plugs,fuel line and filter but was wondering if anyone had any experience of this kind? The RAC man assured me it wasnt anything badly wrong!!!Hopefully!

Thanks

Hi Joey, if your engine is aircooled, it must have been a later fit, as far as I know they went over to watercooled in 1982, this is quite a popular swap as although the aircooled motor is a bit less power, it's pretty bulletproof and more reliable. Regardless, if yours is the twin carb set up, I had exactly the same symptoms when I first put my engine back together. The problem will probably be the carbs, they have electronic automatic chokes which are linked in to the throttle cable which have about 3 individual adjustments on them, and the carbs probably need balancing as well.

This not all as bad as it sounds, but I would advise you to take it to an aircooled VW specialist in your area, there are quite a few down your way, I can look you a few up if you need.

If you don't have twin carbs, it still sounds more like a tune up than anything major, these vans like to be used, if I leave mine standing around for a week or so, it coughs and splutters when first started, there is a great book on aircooled engines called 'How to keep your VW alive' written by a hippy in the '70's, he says, 'when you start your engine, you should leave it ticking over the amount of time it takes to make a roll-up (Jamaican Woodbine) before driving off', this is sound advice.

Good Luck and welcome to the fraternity, Mick

I had a similar problem on my old 2.0L Aircooled Bay Window.

Check for vacuum pipe leaks, down behind the carbs (if twin carbs) is some kind of balance pipe connected by rubber elbows, my elbows had perished and was sucking in air.

Not trying to nick your thread M8.... but i have a 'single' auto choke carb on my 1900cc watercooled engine.... my question is there would i start to look for a reconditioned one

cheers !!

Nannycatch.....

Hi Nannycatch, you could try big boys toys at Thurrock, they do lots of carb options and are much cheaper than JK for engine parts, very knowledgeable staff who are all VW enthusiasts.

http://www.bigboyztoys.co.uk/

cheers for the info again,iv changed the plugs,leads,checked all the hoses on the carbs,fuel line &filter changed,iv also done what Phade suggested(clear carb) and no luck.It now starts and has no acceleration,it idles (splutters) with no acceleartion,but sometimes,once out of 20 turnovers it runs great,i drove it 20miles last night with no probs and today it hasnt started at al!!really weird!

Does anyone know any aircooled specialists in the taunton/bridgwater area?

check out justkampers website they should have a list of places or try rustybay.they should have loads of links.

good luck.

cheers for ideas again.Just taken her to the local garage to have her mended and received a phone call almost imediatly saying that the main reason was that the carbs were just full of crap.Also (amazingly) that she had around 4LITRES of oil too much in the engine!!!!! Im now counting my blessings for not being able to start her!!!My dad and i had been trying to work out why anyone would do such a thing when we looked at the pics of the van with the old owner,and noticed ....he lived on a huge hill!!!!must of put oil in all the time!!!

Thank fully she is running fine now but the garage man whent to move her and there were no gears!!! only a bolt holding on the synchro or something!!

anyway....lesson for today....dont check oil on a hill!!!