Hey everyone--- trouble with an 86 Cabriolet

rexmundi01 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-02-2009, 07:52 AM

So I'm new to this forum and fairly new to VWs. I've had this car for about 5 years, but I've only driven it once. I inherited it after my sister ran into a deer going 70. My brother in law put a new engine in it but couldn't get the pulleys lined up. So I managed to get that done a while back, everything was good to go, except the cold start valve hasn't been functioning... ever. Now last summer i tried to start it and it wouldn't, I diagnosed it, determined the inline fuel pump to be bad, so I replaced that and the engine compartment fuel filter. the car would run as long as i sprayed starting fluid into the intake via the coldstart valve location, and I had to hold the gas pedal to the floor. Now it won't start again, turns over like a champ and wants to fire with starting fluid, just won't fire. Any ideas? I'll be doing another fuel pressure test and spark test in the next two days. Anything helps. Thanks

Justice

solidinside · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 12:45 AM

I know you put a pump on, but is it turning on

rexmundi01 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 09:18 AM

Yeah its turning on. I just got the cold start valve spraying. A vacuum line was disconnected. So now the timing is set to 0, the fuel pressure is pretty strong, i haven't used a gauge yet, there is spark... the only thing is it will only turn over really slow. not fast enough for it to start.

solidinside · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 04:09 PM

stock timing is 6 degrees BTDC, I usually advance mine to 10 -12 drgrees

solidinside · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 04:10 PM

does it start if you put the gas pedal down a bit

rexmundi01 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 06:26 PM

well, yesterday it was spraying out of the cold start valve.. today it wasn't, it wasn't spraying out of the injectors, but it had pressure when i took the fuel filter off. so now i'm pretty sure it's a fuel issue, but not sure what aspect. What are the odds of a short in the fuel pump wiring? it's new so i don't think its bad. The only thing that sucks is i'm jumping it off my jeep every time i want to try something. I have taken apart the fuel distribution center.... the thing above the air filter.... and cleaned it.. now i just have to put it back together but i don't think that's the real problem.

rexmundi01 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 06:27 PM

oh yeah... it will sputter like it wants to start... but not. and with starting fluid it fires and runs for just long enough for all that to burn off.

solidinside · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 06:45 PM

try playing with the fuel dist enrichment, its the small hole next to the big boot, its either a 3mm allen, or it may be a torx, I think its a 3mm allen, dont turn it too much though cause it is easy to get really out of adjustment, count the turns as your doing it, turning it clock wise will richen it and counter will lean it up, start with like half turns, for shits a giggles before you play with that screw, pull the big boot off, and while your cranking it, pull up on the plunger to see what happens. also before ypu play with that screw, make sure all your boots are tight and there are no vacuum leaks

rexmundi01 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 08:20 PM

will do. appreciate it.

solidinside · #10 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 09:45 PM

I must have missed one of your posts, I seen you took the fuel dist apart to clean it, what all did you take apart, and how did you clean it

rexmundi01 · #11 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 09:55 PM

I took the fuel lines off and removed the flat head screws holding it down to the air cleaner thing, I took all the hard ware out and tried to categorize it and blew out all the passages with compressed air. now tomorrow i just have to put it back together... I'm becoming more and more certain that there must be a short to the fuel pump... the fuse could be bad... or maybe the relay. since its kinda on-off as far as fuel delivery goes.

solidinside · #12 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 11:02 PM

did you pull out the metering valve, it the rod under the block you pulled off, held in by a clip, you have to be very very carefull with those, I usually clean them with gas and q-tip, if you scratch that rod, your fuel dist is junk, they are lazer cut for each fuel dist, they are not interchangable

rexmundi01 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 02:43 PM

I tried to be really careful with it. Hopefully enough. I'll be putting it back together tomorrow and checking the wiring to my fuel pump. hopefully they're really corroded. That would simplify things greatly.

rexmundi01 · #14 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 06:06 PM

So my fuel pump is working. I'm actually not getting any fuel through the distributor, which fits the symptoms from before. I've checked the various lines going into it, they are pushing fuel in, but its not coming out of the lines to the injectors. I've taken the injectors off, tested them, the lines, tested them, all good. It's actually not coming out of the fuel distributor. Do these go bad? Anybody ever had this problem before?

solidinside · #15 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 10:17 PM

have somebody pull up on the plunger while you are cranking the car, pull it up slowly as the car is cranking, listen to see if the car sound different., they usually dont go bad.