T2 Feels sluggish, obvious things to check?

My T2 has just come back from having a new starter motor fitted, due to go away in it this week for a few days so I took it out for a spin yesterday. Seemed fine for ~5 miles and then really struggled up a very gentle hill, 2nd gear felt OK but very little pull and changing in to 3rd with foot down it was hardly accellerating at all....felt like it would take 10mins to get up to 50mph.

When I stopped this pipe (pic is not my engine but this pipe) was completely off:



I have re-attached it and will go for a drive again to see how it is. Im flying blid but if thats just an air hose (so nothing to do with it being sluggish)...what else should i check?

Thanks for the help and sorry for the lack of details.

 

Sadly, that's not the source of your problem, that hose, if I understand your image correctly, is for your heating.


What did the engine sound like? Abnormal or as usual?

 

Check the basics , timing , valves etc etc ...
Lots of shiny new bits in there , any one of them could have failed.
Possibilities are endless - you need to eliminate probable faults one at a time - basics first ..

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All looks in good order, but timing plays a big part, also check you fuel filter too see you don't have any restrictions like rust etc. Did they move your distributor or any other parts when fitting?

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My initial reaction to 'T2 Feels sluggish' would be 'As designed'
Seriously though, as long as your accelerator pedal is giving full travel on the throttle arm, fuel delivery is intact and not restricted, choke is coming off properly as engine warms up, and vacuum hoses are attached and not leaking, then check the timing. If it's been away for a starter motor it's possible they've done you a 'favour' by re-timing it according to some value which isn't appropriate for your engine.

 

Remove everything that you've packed for your holiday, clothes, awning, food, beer, chairs, table, levelling blocks, EHU cable, water, toilet, coats, rugs, bedding, carpets, curtains, seat cushions and give it another go.
Better?
Sorted.

 

Sorry just to be clear - that is not a pic of my engine but just one I found online to show you the hose that was disconnected.

The engine sounded OK but when in 3rd putting my foot down barely changed the pitch of the engine. Didnt feel like I was getting any power above 2nd gear.

So from above I need to check timing / point closing up - if there is an idiots guide on how to check these things please let me know, failing that i'll swing by the local garage tomorrow and point them in that direction

Thanks all.

 

So can we have a real pic of your engine bay?

 

As said, probably the hose but as you have a single port engine which I must say looks very shiny, is your pre heat pipe clear and not coked up with carbon? I found so called "refurbished" ones at Stanford Hall the last time I was there and they were anything but, just painted and being sold for a small fortune. The stall holder got very arsy when I questioned the validity of the term. Mine got like that and I had it done with caustic soda and a drill. Performance was much better afterwards.

 

Haha ok, will send one later when I get in.

 

If you haven't... Learn to check, adjust valves... It's easy and can improve/keep us running nice.

 

If we get one, my quid is on the vac advance pipe

 

Try not to use cheap crap fuel, I find it makes a difference.

 

Was the starter the whole job or did they service it too?

 

It’s entirely up to you how you want to run/maintain your bus so feel free to disregard my comment

I joined this forum 7 yrs ago knowing nothing about aircooled VWs. There is a wealth of great info on here if you’re willing to invest the time with the search function. Youtube is also a great source of information and getting a manual (bentley, haines etc) is also a good idea. I have to say though, my experience of local garages to be able to correctly diagnose and /or resolve running issues on a 40 year old bus is not good, I’d even go as far as to say some classic car “specialists” and even ones who claim to know VWs have had zero success and have in some cases done more harm than good.

my recommendation would be to do some research and have a go yourself - these are pretty straightforward machines and most maintenance is just with spanner and screwdriver

iirc some one on here put it very well - why pay someone else to cock it up when you can do that yourself for free (or something like that )

 

And try to get to Techenders!

 

Wrong spark plug gap...

 

Whens it on?

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