80 Rabbit Won’t Keep Running

Hey all, I’ve got an ’80 Rabbit 1600 w/CIS that runs fine for 10
minutes then dies. Wait an hour, starts and runs, dies again. Any
educated guesses?

--
Posted at author's request, using http://www.AutoBoardz.com interface
Articles individually verified to usenet standards. Visit URL to contact author/report abuse
Thread archive: http://www.AutoBoardz.com/80-Rabbit-...ict206765.html

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:29:22 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Hey all, I’ve got an ’80 Rabbit 1600 w/CIS that runs fine for 10
minutes then dies. Wait an hour, starts and runs, dies again. Any
educated guesses?

could be the fuel filter , or the pump inlet clogged

On Feb 19, 1:56 pm, samst... (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:29:22 GMT, wascalwabbit <n... (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:
Hey all, I've got an '80 Rabbit 1600 w/CIS that runs fine for 10
minutes then dies. Wait an hour, starts and runs, dies again. Any
educated guesses?

could be the fuel filter , or the pump inlet clogged

Following on Sam's suggestion, do you get a spark when it dies? Will
it run at-speed, but die when you slow down? If you try to drive it,
does it lurch or simply lack power? Does it happen when the gas tank
is full?

Try opening the gas cap, once. Just for giggles.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:56:27 GMT, samstone (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:29:22 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Hey all, I’ve got an ’80 Rabbit 1600 w/CIS that runs fine for 10
minutes then dies. Wait an hour, starts and runs, dies again. Any
educated guesses?

could be the fuel filter , or the pump inlet clogged
Is the cpr inlet screen clean? Is the fuel filter new? When you hook

the timing light up to a spark plug wire does the light indicate that
it getting a spark? When you attach the fuel pressure guage does the
pressure read correct according to the chart in your Bentley manual?

Sounds like what happened to me when my fuel filter became clogged.

Things are lookin’ good! Runs now, and the gauges work. New ignition
switch fixed the temp gauge and the sporadic fuel pump. Probably
fixed problems I hadn’t found yet. The fuel gauge sending unit arm
wasn’t grounding to the sender mounting plate at the pivot point, so I
took it apart and gave it a good scrubbing. Works fine, cheap fix.
The car sat for 10 years, and I think the tank outlet was plugged with
goo. It ran longer each time, so it probably had to clean out. It’s
my son’s car (19). I’m looking like a hero. Thanks for the help,
guys.

"Jim Behning" wrote:

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:56:27 GMT, samstone (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:29:22 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Hey all, I’ve got an ’80 Rabbit 1600 w/CIS that runs fine
for 10
minutes then dies. Wait an hour, starts and runs, dies
again. Any
educated guesses?

could be the fuel filter , or the pump inlet clogged
Is the cpr inlet screen clean? Is the fuel filter new? When
you hook
the timing light up to a spark plug wire does the light
indicate that
it getting a spark? When you attach the fuel pressure guage
does the
pressure read correct according to the chart in your Bentley
manual?

--
Posted at author's request, using http://www.AutoBoardz.com interface
Articles individually verified to usenet standards. Visit URL to contact author/report abuse
Thread archive: http://www.AutoBoardz.com/80-Rabbit-...ict206765.html

You will probably will have a ton of clogged screens after a bit of
driving. Look at the CPR screen, every injector screen on the fuel
distributor, and expect the injectors to get clogged. If they don't be
happy. Don't forget to change the fuel filter after a few fuel tanks
of gas.

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:28:49 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Things are lookin’ good! Runs now, and the gauges work. New ignition
switch fixed the temp gauge and the sporadic fuel pump. Probably
fixed problems I hadn’t found yet. The fuel gauge sending unit arm
wasn’t grounding to the sender mounting plate at the pivot point, so I
took it apart and gave it a good scrubbing. Works fine, cheap fix.
The car sat for 10 years, and I think the tank outlet was plugged with
goo. It ran longer each time, so it probably had to clean out. It’s
my son’s car (19). I’m looking like a hero. Thanks for the help,
guys.

"Jim Behning" wrote:
On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:56:27 GMT, samstone (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:29:22 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Hey all, I’ve got an ’80 Rabbit 1600 w/CIS that runs fine
for 10
minutes then dies. Wait an hour, starts and runs, dies
again. Any
educated guesses?

could be the fuel filter , or the pump inlet clogged
Is the cpr inlet screen clean? Is the fuel filter new? When
you hook
the timing light up to a spark plug wire does the light
indicate that
it getting a spark? When you attach the fuel pressure guage
does the
pressure read correct according to the chart in your Bentley
manual?

Once it starts, it runs great. Starts right up when cold, every time.
I can drive it as hard as I want for miles, never misses a beat.
New, clean filter, lines all seem clear. Runs too good to be a
clogged line. It never starts when warmed up, though. Good spark,
and if I give it a blast of starting fluid it will run for a couple of
seconds. I did bump start it. If I crack the input line to the
filter with the pump running, it squirts gas under pressure. I lift
the air plate, but nothing comes out of the injector nozzle. I don’t
have a pressure gauge, but looks like I need one. What’s a good
brand?

"Jim Behning" wrote:

You will probably will have a ton of clogged screens after a
bit of
driving. Look at the CPR screen, every injector screen on the
fuel
distributor, and expect the injectors to get clogged. If they
don't be
happy. Don't forget to change the fuel filter after a few fuel
tanks
of gas.

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:28:49 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com
wrote:

Things are lookin’ good! Runs now, and the gauges work. New
ignition
switch fixed the temp gauge and the sporadic fuel pump.
Probably
fixed problems I hadn’t found yet. The fuel gauge sending
unit arm
wasn’t grounding to the sender mounting plate at the pivot
point, so I
took it apart and gave it a good scrubbing. Works fine,
cheap fix.
The car sat for 10 years, and I think the tank outlet was
plugged with
goo. It ran longer each time, so it probably had to clean
out. It’s
my son’s car (19). I’m looking like a hero. Thanks for the
help,
guys.

"Jim Behning" wrote:
On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:56:27 GMT, samstone (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:29:22 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Hey all, I’ve got an ’80 Rabbit 1600 w/CIS that runs
fine
for 10
minutes then dies. Wait an hour, starts and runs, dies
again. Any
educated guesses?

could be the fuel filter , or the pump inlet clogged
Is the cpr inlet screen clean? Is the fuel filter new?
When
you hook
the timing light up to a spark plug wire does the light
indicate that
it getting a spark? When you attach the fuel pressure
guage
does the
pressure read correct according to the chart in your
Bentley
manual?

--
Posted at author's request, using http://www.AutoBoardz.com interface
Articles individually verified to usenet standards. Visit URL to contact author/report abuse
Thread archive: http://www.AutoBoardz.com/80-Rabbit-...ict206765.html

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 06:29:30 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Once it starts, it runs great. Starts right up when cold, every time.
I can drive it as hard as I want for miles, never misses a beat.
New, clean filter, lines all seem clear. Runs too good to be a
clogged line. It never starts when warmed up, though. Good spark,
and if I give it a blast of starting fluid it will run for a couple of
seconds. I did bump start it. If I crack the input line to the
filter with the pump running, it squirts gas under pressure. I lift
the air plate, but nothing comes out of the injector nozzle. I don’t
have a pressure gauge, but looks like I need one. What’s a good
brand?
When 'hot' and trying to start , does the exhaust smell like fuel?

There are good tests and suggestions in the bentley manual
for ' not starting while warm' . Many are fuel related - leak down
of pressure, the thermo time switch - cold start 'injector' valve.
Again , the bentley has procedures to check each. Because
it sat for so long I'd use an injector cleaner in the fuel.

You need a Bentley before the pressure guage. I don't know what a good
brand is I got a Mac kit from a pawn shop. A friend was supposed to be
Ebaying his pressur guage. I can ask him if he stil has it and it if
has the right connections but I am heading out of town soon.

I have seen shade tree mechanics try to troubleshoot by cracking open
fuel lines. It is just about impossible. I think the last guy I saw do
that took the car to the shop and they replaced the fuel distributor.
I did have a fuel distributor act up on my 84. I got a distributor
from an 85 or 86. That was a hen's tooth 10 years ago as old VWs are
crusher material.

On Tue, 06 Mar 2007 06:29:30 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Once it starts, it runs great. Starts right up when cold, every time.
I can drive it as hard as I want for miles, never misses a beat.
New, clean filter, lines all seem clear. Runs too good to be a
clogged line. It never starts when warmed up, though. Good spark,
and if I give it a blast of starting fluid it will run for a couple of
seconds. I did bump start it. If I crack the input line to the
filter with the pump running, it squirts gas under pressure. I lift
the air plate, but nothing comes out of the injector nozzle. I don’t
have a pressure gauge, but looks like I need one. What’s a good
brand?

"Jim Behning" wrote:
You will probably will have a ton of clogged screens after a
bit of
driving. Look at the CPR screen, every injector screen on the
fuel
distributor, and expect the injectors to get clogged. If they
don't be
happy. Don't forget to change the fuel filter after a few fuel
tanks
of gas.

On Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:28:49 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com
wrote:

Things are lookin’ good! Runs now, and the gauges work. New
ignition
switch fixed the temp gauge and the sporadic fuel pump.
Probably
fixed problems I hadn’t found yet. The fuel gauge sending
unit arm
wasn’t grounding to the sender mounting plate at the pivot
point, so I
took it apart and gave it a good scrubbing. Works fine,
cheap fix.
The car sat for 10 years, and I think the tank outlet was
plugged with
goo. It ran longer each time, so it probably had to clean
out. It’s
my son’s car (19). I’m looking like a hero. Thanks for the
help,
guys.

"Jim Behning" wrote:
On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:56:27 GMT, samstone (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:29:22 GMT, wascalwabbit <none (AT) 000 (DOT) com> wrote:

Hey all, I’ve got an ’80 Rabbit 1600 w/CIS that runs
fine
for 10
minutes then dies. Wait an hour, starts and runs, dies
again. Any
educated guesses?

could be the fuel filter , or the pump inlet clogged
Is the cpr inlet screen clean? Is the fuel filter new?
When
you hook
the timing light up to a spark plug wire does the light
indicate that
it getting a spark? When you attach the fuel pressure
guage
does the
pressure read correct according to the chart in your
Bentley
manual?