Coughing and sputtering | 356 Speedster, 550 Spyder, Replica, Automotive Community

Former Member

Hi guys you've been very helpful previosly so heres my story. My
speedster was runing fine but all of a sudden going up a hill it began to cough, sputter and backfire. It really didnt want to go over
40 m.p.h. and has very strong exhaust fumes. My first thought was
bad gas as I had filled the tank earlier that day but I had driven
the car a couple of hours after gassing up with no problems.
I put premium un-leaded in. The car is new to me so I'm not that
familiar with it. I'am not mechanicaly inclined so please use
laymens terms. I would just take it to a local shop but afraid I would not make it and I cant find any towing hooks. Any suggestions?

6/1/045:25 PM

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Former Member

Hi guys you've been very helpful previosly so heres my story. My
speedster was runing fine but all of a sudden going up a hill it began to cough, sputter and backfire. It really didnt want to go over
40 m.p.h. and has very strong exhaust fumes. My first thought was
bad gas as I had filled the tank earlier that day but I had driven
the car a couple of hours after gassing up with no problems.
I put premium un-leaded in. The car is new to me so I'm not that
familiar with it. I'am not mechanicaly inclined so please use
laymens terms. I would just take it to a local shop but afraid I would not make it and I cant find any towing hooks. Any suggestions?

6/1/045:25 PM

Former Member

Could be float needle valve stuck open or held open by crud causing much too rich mixture. Could be almost anything...

6/2/047:41 AM

Ron O1984/2010 IM, B.C. Canada

Dan, time to find a guy who knows VW air cooled motors. These guys are a dying breed. Where do you live? Maybe someone on this forum lives in your area and can recommend a VW mechanic. As George said, it could be a lot of things and if you're not mechanically inclined, let someone, with a lot of knowledge, do the fixing. Some of the little problems can run you around the bend!
Ron

6/2/046:41 PM

Former Member

I realize its next to impossible to diagnose engine problems on the
internet. I was just hoping it was a common problem or easy fix.
My next question is: what is the dial with numbers from 1 to 5 located
on drivers side, in line with the fuel lines? You push it in and turn
it to lock on the number you want. Mine is set on number 5.

6/2/047:35 PM

Alan MerklinDrclock - Elkins, West Virginia Supporting Member

Fuel pressure regulator should be at 1-1/2 to 2 setting

Alan

6/2/047:52 PM

Former Member

Thanks Alan, should I crank it down to 2 or step it down to 4 and
try driving car to see what happens?

6/2/048:09 PM

Alan MerklinDrclock - Elkins, West Virginia Supporting Member

#2 is a normal setting for the regulator, that should work for you

6/3/043:08 AM

<div id="{%=id%}" class="reveal-modal small h-alert-modal-popup" data-reveal>
    <div class="first-modal-focus focus-utility-element" tabindex="0" aria-label="Inside Modal"></div>

<h4 id="{%=id%}_title" class="margin-bottom-10 popup-title"></h4>
    <div id="{%=id%}_body" class="margin-bottom-10 popup-body">
        </div>

<ul id="{%=id%}ButtonGroup" class="button-group h-popup-buttons even-button-group even-1">
    <li id="{%=id%}Okay_buttonContainer"><a id="{%=id%}Okay" href="javascript:void(0);" class="button success no-margin-bottom h-alert-modal-ok-button" role="button">OK</a><script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            function {%=id%}Okay_click(event, data) {
            {%=id%}Popup.hide();
        }
        
                $('#{%=id%}Okay').on('click', {%=id%}Okay_click);
        })();
    </script></li></ul><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="close-reveal-modal" aria-label="Close Modal">&#215;</a><div class="last-modal-focus focus-utility-element" tabindex="0"></div>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
        (function() {
            {%=id%}Popup = new SS.Popup.ModalPopup('{%=id%}');
        })();
    </script>