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Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:34 am
by dixy42
Drives fine with foot slightly on accelerator all the way up to around 50 but then it starts spluttering and refuses to go any faster?? Any idea why this might happen? Please help. I'm driving to holland in 3 days!!!!!

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:03 am
by the edmundator
No.1 suspect for this kind of behaviour is always rust in the fuel system. It comes from a rotting filler-neck (occasionally the tank, too, although they tend to just leak when they go rusty).

Check:

1. the filler neck - inside and out - for signs of rot (easier if you take the back wheel off)
2. inside the tank - via the inspection hatch under the rear seat - you might see bits of dirt/rust at the bottom of the tank
3. in the in-line fuel filter (assuming it's a carb car) - check right at the bottom of the filter where gravity will collect the bits

When you open up the throttle, you draw more fuel through and the particles of rust collect on the small filter at the end of the in-tank fuel pick-up. Eventually these block things enough to stop fuel getting to the engine in sufficient quantities.

If everything is as clean as a whistle and rust-free, it's either a fuel supply or an ignition problem.

Fuel pump?
Poor carb set-up?
Timing?
Coil?
Ignition amplifier (this also can cause the problems you have as it begins to fail)?

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 12:25 pm
by Neillyboy
Is the rubber flange between the carb & the inlet manifold split?

With the engine on lightly apply some pressure on either side of the air box. If you hear it drawing air or the idle changes i'd say it was that.

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 12:26 pm
by ianaudia4
Or worn out plugs, HT leads, rotor arm and dizzy cap.

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:45 pm
by Nate
Which carb fitted?

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:27 pm
by dixy42
It's a weber carb.
But I think that may be irrelevant. My friend who is an old school mechanic and he seems certain it's a breakdown in the coil and the distributor.
I have literally done/changed everything that has been mentioned above in the past few months.
The engine is pretty much the only thing that hasn't been changed under the bonnet in the last 6 months

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:05 am
by dixy42
Just been out in her this morning. She is no better. And now she cuts out and won't even bump in 1st gear! If u let it cool Down the. It will start fine. The ignition coil is getting seriously hot. Too hot to touch. So that can't be good. I'm gunna see if I can get another one. 2 more days till holland. This is gonna be a close one!!!!

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:07 am
by the edmundator
If you have a spare ignition amplifier, it would be worth trying this. I had exactly this problem with one of my cars. I replaced the coil and the distributor, cap and condenser, plugs and leads before a simple swap of the ignition amp cured the problem.

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:27 pm
by dixy42
I have changed the ignition module before. Would a faulty ig amp cause my coil to roast?

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:50 pm
by dixy42
Could it be the distributor?
Please help me. I'm losin the will to live.
Only 2 days till holland!!

Re: Coughing, spluttering and very annoying

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 11:07 pm
by gafr21
Hi, how does it end! Did you get to Holland? Is the problem fixed, what was it?

Having similar problems with my GTII

Hope you got it sorted man.