About Paul Expertise Almost anything about most European cars BMW, Mercedes ,Audi ,VW and general auto-ectrical questions
Experience I have been a mechanic in the U.K for 15 years on European cars I am ATA qualified (U.K equivalent of ASE). Also home and diy mechanic for family and friends now re-located to the U.S
UK Car Repair - VW golf 1.6 auto carb 1977, starts but dies
Expert: Paul - 7/7/2008
Question My much loved cabrio starts on the button but can not maintain idle, and will not stay startded even if you give it lots of gas, it just dies, but will start again sraight away. Please help
Answer Hi radley,it could be the crankcase breather broken and causing a huge rush of air.is the automatic choke working hold your hand over the inlet and try again (allow a small amount of air to get in). Try pouring a small amount of petrol down the carb (about 2 teaspoons should do) and start it then. Does it run for more than normal? next check the fuel pump is working properly as it may be weak and not filling the float chamber. check the float valve inside the carb or if you prefer to, just replace the carb completely(but not until you are sure that there is enough fuel coming in)lastly, there may be a spring loaded rev limiter on the rotor arm of the distributor, if the spring breaks the limiter will act as soon as the engine runs and cause it to cut out (if this is the case then the engine would not run with petrol in the carb)it does sound like a fueling problem as you said it would start again immediately. let me know what happens and I will go from there - thanks - Paul
