On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 3:12 PM, Timmy Evens <monkey_lips@yahoo.com> wrote:
> hello fellow vanagon nerds,
> so my 83 has an engine from a 93 jetta. (1.8L inline 4)
> lately it has randomly been acting like it is losing fuel. will sputter then idle extremely low and no throttle response. if i'm rolling along and keep it in gear and stomp on it i can just hear the throttle opening but no power. if i stop and sit or get out and mindlessly look for something wrong in the wiring then it will start up fine and run for a week or so then do it again. what is this? injectors not getting signal? fuel pump? engine gremlins angry?

First of all, I resemble that nerd remark!  (kidding)

Is your engine an ACC code? If so I bet it has Mono-Motronic. If not,
likely it's running Digifant of some kind. If so, FWIW, the Haynes VW
Rabbit '75-'92 manual is pretty useful and can be found used cheap.

Sounds like electrical to me.

Check:

wires and connector at side of distributor.
grounds in engine bay.
high tension wires from coil to distributor and from distributor to
plugs. Seated properly? Are connections clean?
wires/connectors from any engine sensors
wires/connectors at fuel pump
wires/connectors at fuel pump and/or power relay (the latter being for
the the ECU)

It takes time, but it may also be worth following as many of the wires
to/from engine bay components as you can, and look for obvious flaws.

Basically look for wiring flaws. Cracked casings, corrosion etc.

Neil.

-- 
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines