Pearl, my 64/70 beetle is having troubles at the moment. 1600tp with weber 40dcn carb, 009 distributer.

When she drives all of a sudden power is lost, like she's constipated. Sometimes it passes with a bit of revving other times she dies. We stop and after a little while she starts again, drives a bit and then looses power. But always manages to get started again.

It has been happening for a few weeks now. First it happened after driving for half an hour to the jamboree, then was ok driving around brissie. Following weekend it happened again on a long drive, then intermittantly driving locally. Now it happens all the time.

Have changed the points (they were burnt), plugs, condenser and coil, didn't make any difference. Will next look at the petrol pump.

If anyone could shed some light on the problem would be much appreciated.

Bel did something similar and it was a blocked jet in carbie

Does yours sort of cough as well as loose power? I never had to stop with Bel though 'cos she would pick up again after a couple of coughs. It was infrequent as well, not happening all the time.

no coughs, when you accelerate it feels like the brakes get put on. it has got worse over time.

Blocked fuel filter?

Sounds a lot like the fuel pump - probably a hole or split in the diaphragm. Check it out, it's not expensive.

Is it hesitation, do u feel the engine miss when u let off the accelerator (coasting in gear). Are u stalling? If so this is an indication you are running lean in your idle circuit, could be a blocked idle jet.

Could also be electrical, such as a bad coil etc.

Does the loss of power usually happen only in particular situations, like cold weather, when the engine is warm, at low speed, full throttle etc. need more info to diagnose

If it does it under load- ie hard work like up hills- it's probably electrical.
If it goes off at constant light loads it's probably fuel related.

There is a screen (filter) in the petrol tank itself, you can get the symptoms you describe if this is blocking up.

It certainly sounds like a fuel problem. If you can arrange a gravity fed sytem you will be able to bypass the fuel tank, filters and pump.

Try checking the fuel pump for flow, I think its about 2L a minute, also check the lever on the bottom of the pump and see if it has any free play before it starts pumping (which it shouldn't) and also check the length of the pushrod.

Clean n check the fuel system from front to back

pull the tank and clean it out using some bolts inside it to remove the rust or dirt

blow the fuel line from front to rear with compressed air and push a fine piece of wire though it to check for blockages.

add one of those $5.00 plastic fuel filters

check the carby for dirt etc

[Edited on 14-10-2002 by vw54]

Thats folks for all the suggestions.

Took the fuel pump apart and cleaned all the bits, made it to the servo a k down the road with no hiccups and back as well. Tomorrow will take her for a longer drive, fingers crossed.

Will probably get a new fuel pump just in case and a new plastic filter.

Kurt

Hey Kurt, welcome to my world I had all the symtoms you spoke of, drove me mad. I was going to buy a new fuel pump also,but had the pushrod looked at and it was worn. Once changed it was good as new,problem fixed and i saved heaps of bucks not buying a new pump. If it happens again could be worth changing first.

Cheers
Steve