88 Cabriolet sputters and dies when engine warms up
Asked by ponton Apr 15, 2016 at 05:59 PM about the 1988 Volkswagen Cabriolet Boutique
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Replaced accumulator pump and fuel pump 2 years ago. Just replaced all
injectors, plugs, rotor , distributor cap. Problem seems to be excessive fuel
tank pressure. When car dies, I loosen gas cap, lots of pressure is released,
then car runs normal until pressure builds up again. Replaced gas cap, no
difference.
5 Answers
Could be a return line or other gas lines- the fuel system is a closed system so it will build up some pressure in the tank as the gas level goes down- the gas tank on older cars has a venting system which would release vapors into the air- but of course, that is not environmentally friendly- hence, the newer systems- when did the problem start? could it be the fuel pump again? good luck-
The problem started after installing a new warm up regulator due to hard starting in winter. Now starts great but...
Also seems to be getting terrible gas mileage
sounds to me like the fuel system is restricted... it sounds like Your regulator is causing to much backup pressure between the engine and the tank which could be why the tank is letting go of a lot of pressure when you release the cap. Either that or a purge valve in the tank is stuck. Its often located in the fuel nozzal going down to the tank.
i hate these systems with a passion.... The horror story of my 1985 audi 5000..... i owned a 1984 modal and the 1990 100 they all ran the same thing and they are finicky as hell! Most comman thing to happen is the seal betwen the air box and the distributor goes bad and causes a bad seal which makes the car run horably... had to fasion myself a crude replacment once to get the stupid car running