Cold Start problems - even with new carb!?

Sie! · 25-02-09, 06:39 PM

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question here, see if anyone can help me out a little - cos im stuck!

I have just got a refurbished Pierburg 2E2 for my Audi, the reason being, my old one didnt seem to want to let me drive the car when cold!

What happened was, when starting the car from cold, th choke never seemed to work properley, and when I would drive the car she would chug and splutter until walm. Then around Christmas time, she started to cut out at junctions, and when stopped in traffic. If you pushed the clutch down the rev's would drop to a minimum, and then the car would stall - so having being told my choke didnt work, I got a replacement carb - complete with new choke.

So, we fitted the new carb, and guess what, exactly the same scenario! When walm the car drives like new, very responsive, and great fun - but when cold, she still doesnt seem to want to drive. Does anyone have any idea what may be causing it?

The new carb I put on is fully refurbished, and had been tested before sending out to me, so I presume its something on my car thats causing the problem.

Does anyone have any pointers for me?

Any help would be greatly recieved.

Many thanks,

Simon

pimpdriver · 25-02-09, 07:32 PM

cut your losses, bin it and fit a Weber.

More responsive, and more economical. Manual choke though.

Martc · 26-02-09, 12:46 AM

and if a twin choke webber - have fun when the second choke cuts in

TheTwelveQuidKid · 26-02-09, 01:56 AM

They have water heated auto choke don't they ?
And an electric manifold pre heater ?

I had one with that carb set up about 7 years ago and the symptoms on mine were:-

Poor cold starts
Stalling
Flooding.
Flat spots.

It would initially start from cold, after a blip of the throttle prior to turning the key. It would fire up, then stall, and after that, it was flooded. Killed the battery a few times on cold morinings.

In hindsight, if I had one like that again, I think I'd make, obtain or buy a manual choke conversion kit for it.

Did this model of Audi have the thing that stopped the vacuum advance retard mechanism in the distributor from working when the engine was cold ? If so, it's fitted in one of the heater hoses and has a couple of vacuum pipes connected to it.

Looking at the diagram in the Haynes book, in addition to the water temp controlled auto choke thing, there's an electrical one as well, with a wire going into it. I don't know where this wire connects to, but it might be worth checking if there's power going to it.

Just looking at the diagrams for this carb remind me what a complete nightmare they can be. Convert it to manual choke. At least that way, you can get it to idle at a speed that's acceptable until it warms up. Talking of warming up, is the thermostat ok ? If not (or if it's missing), it'll be sluggish for ages, and use more fuel as well.

Have you got a Haynes book with this carb in it ? On page 346 of the Audi 80, 90 and Coupe book, there's mention of thermo switches for auto choke and manifold pre heater. If either of these aren't working, the warm up process isn't going to be what it should be.
If you haven't got the book or if you need any more info, let me know and I'll find it for you.

26-02-09, 12:46 AM	#3
Martc Black Coupe Collector Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Towcestershiresheer Posts: 2,934	and if a twin choke webber - have fun when the second choke cuts in __________________ 95 UrS6 87 Coupe Quattro

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25-02-09, 07:32 PM	#2
pimpdriver Devon Pastie Muncher Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Calne Wiltshire Posts: 7,530	cut your losses, bin it and fit a Weber. More responsive, and more economical. Manual choke though.

26-02-09, 01:56 AM	#4
TheTwelveQuidKid Grown up member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 422	They have water heated auto choke don't they ? And an electric manifold pre heater ? I had one with that carb set up about 7 years ago and the symptoms on mine were:- Poor cold starts Stalling Flooding. Flat spots. It would initially start from cold, after a blip of the throttle prior to turning the key. It would fire up, then stall, and after that, it was flooded. Killed the battery a few times on cold morinings. In hindsight, if I had one like that again, I think I'd make, obtain or buy a manual choke conversion kit for it. Did this model of Audi have the thing that stopped the vacuum advance retard mechanism in the distributor from working when the engine was cold ? If so, it's fitted in one of the heater hoses and has a couple of vacuum pipes connected to it. Looking at the diagram in the Haynes book, in addition to the water temp controlled auto choke thing, there's an electrical one as well, with a wire going into it. I don't know where this wire connects to, but it might be worth checking if there's power going to it. Just looking at the diagrams for this carb remind me what a complete nightmare they can be. Convert it to manual choke. At least that way, you can get it to idle at a speed that's acceptable until it warms up. Talking of warming up, is the thermostat ok ? If not (or if it's missing), it'll be sluggish for ages, and use more fuel as well. Have you got a Haynes book with this carb in it ? On page 346 of the Audi 80, 90 and Coupe book, there's mention of thermo switches for auto choke and manifold pre heater. If either of these aren't working, the warm up process isn't going to be what it should be. If you haven't got the book or if you need any more info, let me know and I'll find it for you.