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Re: [T3] 72 FI missing/sputtering


On 16 Nov 2005 at 12:19, fess wrote:

> 
> On Nov 16, 2005, at 6:46 AM, Jim Adney wrote:
> 
> > On 15 Nov 2005 at 17:32, fess wrote:
> >
> >> I think I had been ignoring a slight missing or sputtering problem on 
> >> the
> >> short drives I've been doing. But now that I drive it on the freeway 
> >> for the
> >> first time in a while, I'm feeling like it's not in very good shape.
> >
> >> It seems to be slightly intermittent, but perhaps relative to the
> >> throttle position.
> >
> > What year? If it's a 72-3, suspect the throttle valve switch.
> 
> It's a 72.  [ door sticker of 11/71 ]

> > You can test this by disconnecting the switch for a few days and
> > seeing if the miss goes away while driving. 

> Hmm. Ok, I can try that. I have to figure out which switch that is.

It's the black box on the right end of the throttle valve shaft.

> > Otherwise, check the SP connectors for their 1000 Ohms, and the spark 
> > plugs
> > themselves for wear (rounded electrodes.)
> 
> Ok, I can try this too. thanks.
> 
> Last night I drove it home and tried to pay more attention.
> It seems to happen in correlation with RPM or possibly load.
> I think that it happened at slightly lower RPMs  when
> I was going up an incline.  So, less about
> throttle position.

The  throttle valve faults tend to occur at one specific spot, where 
the throttle spends a lot of time while driving. Typically this is 
your cruising position.

> I'm not sure I may know what missing / sputtering is,
> so here's my laymans description of the event.
> 
> As I accelerate I hit a point where suddenly it
> seems to loose power. The noise the engine makes
> seems to be a little bubbly like someone
> just blew put the pipes through some water.
> but it's not that loud.

A miss is just the engine missing a single power stroke. You feel it 
as a very small jerk backwards which usually repeats at irregular 
intervals.

> After driving home, I started to suspect advance mechanism?
> since that seems related to RPM.

Your description does not seem like an advance issue.

> So, I pulled the distributer cap, and twisted
> the rotar,  it turns a little, then snaps back.
> I pulled the small vacuum hose off the intake
> that goes to the outside of the can on the distributer.
> I sucked on that and watched the arm tighten.
> I sucked pretty hard, and it moved the plate
> in the distributer.  Is that supposed to move easily?
> could that be the issue?

Sounds fine.

> Last I checked the throttle position switch for the clicks. It makes 20
> clicks but clicks #3, #5, and #8 are very weird they sound like a quick
> series of clicks rather than one click.  [ like a drummer doing a flam.
> ] [ Also at this point, the return spring popped off, and I don't know
> if I got it on right. anyone got a picture? I think the hook might have
> partially broken. ] 

It sounds odd that the clicks would not all sound pretty much the 
same. This sounds like it could be a throttle valve switch problem, 
but I've never seen one that went bad in more than one spot. Still, 
this is easy to check by just doing the test above.

> My fear is that the timing is just off, which I don't feel confident
> doing myself. However I did have it's valves adjusted and timing done a
> few months ago. [ looks like he lubbed the points cam too. ] 

You've worked yourself thru much harder things. Maybe it's time to 
tackle the timing. Do you have a timing light? Keep in mind that the 
'72 timing adjustment is different from all the other years. Only the 
Bentley manual gets it right. So follow that scheme closely.

-- 
*******************************
Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
*******************************

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