Coughing and spluttering 340 Variomatic - UPDATE!

[Bjorn Belter]

Hello chaps,

I'm still around, as is "Bjorn" my 1985 340 3-door Vario.

Now then, I'd like to think it was just the cold weather and lack of use, but I fear it's more than that. I think something's up with the timing, because until recently, when on tickover, it behaved very well in that when you pressed the brake pedal or LRH switch, the revs increased slightly ( like on my DAFs).

However, when you do that now, the opposite happens and the revs drop and engine stalls.

This really shows itself when out and about. Pulling away from rest is now a very risky matter indeed (not fun when crossing a junction) and the engine is rough. It will hardly drive into its garage now.

What I'm wondering is this. If it was as in the good old days with points and things, then a clever person would be able to check/adjust the timing/points etc and all could be back to normal.

But, this is one of those Renix electric things which although I know there is info on here about, i really don't have a clue about. All I do know is that the Haynes books says "replace". Well, you have to laugh and wonder at how!

Anyway, I'll get it booked into the village service station - it might just limp there - but what should I say to the mechanics there if I get the hiss of breath and look of "not seen one of these for years and you can't get the parts"? (They did the MoT earlier this year and could not belief what a timewarp condition the car is in otherwise - they loved it).

Oh yes, I did notice a couple of rubber vac pipes had worked loose off the carburettor and aircleaner, which I have put back, but to no avail. And the problem seems to get worse the warmer the engine gets.

It's not urgent because I've only really got Bjorn because it needed saving, and the poor thing hardly gets used anyway. But heck, it doesn't half LOOK right!

[macplaxton]

Use it more Mr B!

How fresh is the fuel in it? Modern fuel is rubbish for sitting in the tank for months on end.

[volvosneverdie]

I agree with the use it more declaration.
And id like to add:
OR sell it to me.

Loveley vario dailly is what I asked Santa for.
I got socks.

[Bjorn Belter]

Hmmm... MacP - the petrol is new - well about a month old. The car had a nice trundle a couple of weeks ago, and it was spot on. The beautiful whistle of the Variomatic doing its job was magic.

It's sooo damn comfy, handles so nicely, and with its brand new clutch, brand new drive belts, brand new offside front wing, brand new tailgate gas struts, its ultra rare sporty Volvo alloys with the brand new 175 tyres on, and its bright red spotless three-door paintwork, and its near spotless interior, it's kind of special.

But, I may well have to have a reality check. I really am pressed for time for non-DAF reasons, I am committed and love my Blue Bullet DAF 33 -which is not perfect but not bad - and the garage that I an renting to keep Bjorn in, is not exactly water tight. But, as I am pretty hopeless when it comes to repairing old cars, I have my work cut out.

So, maybe I will have to make a decision re its future. But I need to get its timing/mixture sorted first one day...

Pics are available - or may well be on here on an earlier post.

[SteveP]

Just a thought... have you checked the 1.4 running shakey thread? If your ignition components are new then I'd be looking towards the carb, the renix units are generally rather reliable. Maybe clean the renix plugs and sensor on the bellhousing and see if that makes a difference.

[Bjorn Belter]

Thanks Steve. Yes, I started to read that thread but it kind of lost me. A haze came over me.

I will check the plugs/connections and sensor etc. Worth a go.

I have also read a lot about the carb issues that can arise, and those tails are pretty much convincing me that it's maybe time to let it go somewhere where it will be understood. I've wiggled the air cleaner and it seems quite secure, btw. I think it could be a mixture issue - i.e. carb.

Bit cold at mo to spend much time on it though - I know, wimp!

[nomead]

Ah I dunno, I'm having all sorts of running trouble with mine at the moment; there's a wheezing sound somewhere but can't be arsed to troubleshoot at the moment. I'm suspecting the inlet/exhaust manifold gasket, though there's really no sensible reason to doubt it. I replaced some very visibly broken vacuum hoses, but the sound didn't go away, neither did the running problems. It improved a bit after replacing the space-age tube (for pre-heated air intake). But it runs well enough to get me to work and back at the moment. I'll have a closer look when the weather gets better i.e. in spring

Even a mk3 daily Variomatic is better than no daily Variomatic at all.

[volvosneverdie]

Even a mk3 daily Variomatic is better than no daily Variomatic at all.

[macplaxton]

Does it idle okay?
When you say it gets worse the warmer it gets, rough how bad and how warm?

[Bjorn Belter]

Well this is encouraging... Bjorn has been out and about this afternoon and I even gave it a bit of a "thrashing". Not, I hasten to add, in the Basil Fawlty 1100 way!

I had a bit of time to tinker in the daylight today, giving the impression to any passersby that I knew what I was doing.

I had a look at the pipes, leads and spark plugs. The first thing that occurred to me was how easily the HT leads came off the spark plugs. Number one was losing its grip in particular, so I squashed them a bit to have a tighter fit. I also gave them a wipe and clean.

I've mentioned before that the rubber vac hoses underneath the aircleaner - the one in particular in the middle that attaches to the carb, seems to pop off too easily. So, I treated it to a jubilee clip. Likewise the one connected to the rocker cover had the same treat.

Then I started the engine and it started well from cold, almost immediately pushing the choke in, and left it a few mins to warm up. Then a few forward and reverse trials on the lock-ups forecourt, and I still sensed some "hesitation" when accelerating away. So I had another butchers to see if there was anything obvious amiss but all looked ok.

So, I started it again and decided that as I had my breakdown card and mobile phone, I should venture out.

And guess what - it behaved very well. Once the engine was warmed (and with the heater doing its internal business) we went for a test run, with suitable fast acceleration tests. And so far so good!

The tickover has always seemed a bit high, and when left alone it goes up and down a bit, and the electric fan cuts in as and when it needs. But I guess too high is better than too low.

So, MacP and all - it could well be that all it needs is using more. And maybe the vac pipes were not tight enough.

It really is great little car - at the moment!

Thanks for your comments.

[volvodspec]

that's not vacuum mate but crankcase breather. these don't require jubilee clips or anything like that. there is a hose connection on the carb foot and one on the intake manifold, check those. quite often these links are perished and corroded causing vacuumleak.

i don't agree with the you should use it more theorie, this b14 will be perfectly fine after a proper service.

[CBA]

Things to check, oil cap - is it leaking, it could do with replacing if so, reasonably important for a smooth tickover!, airbox and carburettor, forget the shake test, just make sure the 4 nuts on the carb are tight and the 3 screws/nuts that hold the airbox to the carb are tight and that the carb/airbox gasket is in fact present and in reasonable condition,

--- Worries on the shake test: if you wiggle your loose carburettor and knock a loose nut off its bolt which then rattles into the carb you have a job on your hands(nearly happened!)

Tappet adjustment, if not the same on all valves will make a slight lumpiness in the tickover, and all over the revs really, get them done if you can. change oil and filter + airfilter too to get the best possible economy, smoothness and power, more expensive filters are more efficient, an quality oil filter keeps the oil cleaner for longer.

[CBA]

Bit of carb cleaner wouldnt be wasted either by the sounds of it...
Oh one more thing, make sure the cooling system us full with no air pockets, this can cause idle fluctuations too.

[Bjorn Belter]

Hello again,

Just to update again... "Bjorn" has been out a few times recently and seems to be behaving well. Starts well, nice n comfy, variomatic sounds fab whistling up and down through the ratios, looks smart....

Better not speak too soon!