ShopTalk Forums | Aircooled VW Tech & Restoration Help

Hey guys I need some help, My 1600cc won't idle long, it warms up idles for a few min and then it acts like its not getting fuel. I changed the pump, cleaned out the fuel tank, took apart my carb and cleaned that out then replaced the fuel filter i don't know if my tank isn't getting enough venting or what please help.

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73 super beetle a work in progress, license plate "73 VUU", Im hoping to drive away in by VW for my wedding in November

Yeah, i am having the same problem you are. Have you checked to make sure there is nothing blocking the gas tank? I hope that i just need a new fuel pump

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Brian
'65 Bug Resto-Custom
member of O.S.A.C, VW Gruppe, NorCal VW
'63 Bug (Gone but not forgotten)

Are you sure that the choke isn't staying on too long and flooding the engine?

Leave the filler cap off too see if it is a venting problem with the tank.

Well guys i took my cap off the tank and it did the same thing, i also moved the position of my fuel filter thinking it might be restricting too much gas but it still did the same thing, how do i check and see if my choke is releasing?

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73 super beetle a work in progress, license plate "73 VUU", Im hoping to drive away in by VW for my wedding in November

If your choke is sticking, then the little cam on the left of the carbeurator (it looks like a little stairstep) remains on the highest setting. It is supposed to turn down to lower notches as the engine heats up. Since it's a bit difficult to explain, if you didn't understand that, an easier way to check would be to remove your air cleaner, and make sure that the actual round plate in the throat of the carbeurator is opening up when the engine is warm. Just look down the hole before you start your engine (it should be cold) and you should not be able to see down inside. As it warms up, this plate should rotate out of the way, allowing for the proper mixture.

got ya, it does do that the choke comes all the way out and then it idles for about 2 min then dies like its not getting gas. I'll probably have to yank out the gas tank again to see if there is anything . i'll probably take the carb off and make sure its clean throughout. This sucks because the other car i had this engine in with the same setup in a 72 super and it ran great, i hope i don't have to replace the fuel line from the tank back is that very hard?

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73 super beetle a work in progress, license plate "73 VUU", Im hoping to drive away in by VW for my wedding in November

If you have a clear fuel filter and there is gas in it when the car dies then don't pull the tank. the problem is in your carb.(just check all the little things before getting crazy.)

Does the engine run when you're not at idle? If it dies no matter what, it may be the fuel cutoff valve.

I'm not sure what carb you have but if it's the Pict34, there's a fuel cutoff valve. It's that round thing screwed into the lower left hand side of the carb (looking at it from the back of the car) that has a wire hooked up to it comming from the ignition coil.

Its purpose is to cut the fuel when the power is turned off so you wont run on. If it's malfunctioning, it may be cutting off the fuel when it gets warm.

Any VW shop should carry a replacement and their fairly cheap as I remember. Some people hate that valve and disable it. I think its a simple matter of screwing it off and cutting off the little plunger thing. Personally, I just try a replacement.

thanks man, you know i thought the same thing but i just never replaced it, i'll try that first if thats not it at least i'll have an extra.

Make sure you don't have any air leaks anywhere in the intake system. No leaking gaskets, cracked boots, unplugged vacuum ports in the carb, etc. The engine might not be starving for fuel, it might be getting too much air.

are you getting spark after it dies?? points checked??? can you hear gas when you pull the linkage engaging the accelerator pump??? if you dump some gas in carb throat does it fire back up??? you can test the fuel cutoff slenoid with the key on pull wire and then touch it back on connection, you will hear solenoid click. I doubt this is it, because you can start it,

Explain Your way of setting the idle. I think this could be the trouble. 34 pict equipped engine's idle are not set by the screw on the arm.

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Tom Notch
Tom's Old VW Home

I'm having the same problem with the 34 pict 3 in my 73 Ghia. Checked everything else (pump, tank, lines, filter, spark, etc.), so it must be the carb. It has been rebuilt with new seals/gaskets, so I'm thinking it's an air leak problem. What are the specific areas to look at for air leaks, and how do I go about fixing/plugging them up? Thanks!

I ended up tightening the carb/monifold connection and put some thick grease around the throttle shaft ends. Just got back from a 30 minute drive with a lot of stops; the car ran like a dream without stalling/losing idle once. I think the grease did the trick; I forgot to add some after I rebuilt it.

Idle problems could be caused by a few different things, make sure you don't have intake leaks at the intake manifold at all, you may want to pull out the idle jets on the side of the carb if it's a 34pict3,blow out the jets and passage holes with compressed air, if that doesn't solve the problem, what I do, (VERY CAREFULLY!!!) as the eng is running is to spray carb spray on both sides of the throttle shaft bushing and see if you can keep the eng running , if you can the shaft bushings are bad, don't try to rebush the shafts, can't be done, I have the bushing kit and also sent carb out to a carb shop, same result, still leaked. The 34pict carb new or old is notorious for the throttle shafts to leak, the reason I am familiar with this carb is that I install approx 100 34pict carbs a year, when they work there great, but when don;t, they don;t idle.