Further adventures of the mk.II variomatic.

Right, so I've replaced the carb with a decent one and the problem of hesitation/no revs when applying the accelerator has gone. I still don't think it's running properly and it's running very rich - I can't get it to idle anywhere near two full turns of the mixture screw. Sometimes it'll just run very fast and I can't get it to idle smoothly at all (and yes, the carb bolts are all nice and tight). Very embarrassing not being able to get it in gear with a huge queue behind me at the petrol station because the revs wouldn't drop down low enough to get it into Drive. Also when I lift off the accelerator, the engine braking is accompanied by a load of crackling noises from the engine.

What should I be looking at next?

Thanks,

Coming to the Donny meet? We could take a look

Sounds like it's running pig-rich. Is it lumpy at all? Those engines develop a clear chugging sound when running rich. When the mixture is set right, they're beautifully smooth. Nessy's is a bit rich at the moment, so that it just starts to shake if left idling for more than about 20 seconds.

cheers

James

It's definitely running rich... mostly because I can't get it to run any other way. Someone mentioned air/vacuum leaks as a possible problem in the past. Does this sound likely? Where would I look for them?

Not sure I can make Donington - the medics' rugby team are taking on a touring side from America, possibly too much of a comic opportunity to miss. (And I managed just over 100 miles off the last tank, which would make for a very expensive 250-odd miles up there.)

Ok, sounds like you have a monster vacuum leak, and you're having to run it majorly rich to compensate, but that results in a high idle.

Take it all apart (yes, all of it ), replace anything that looks leaky, tighten it all up, and you should be AOK. Also verify that the breather hose is hooked up, and that the restrictor is in place - you should be able to feel it as a hard 'nobble' in the hose. Gemma managed it, and she's a girl

cheers

James

Countdown to hell breaking loose....
5....
4....
3....
2....

Go on Gem, I'll hold him down while you kick him.......

Do I laugh or cry?! I guess its a kind of back-handed compliment!

Hmm... sounds like a job for the easter holiday in 5 weeks' time.

Thanks for info. When you say take it all apart, I presume you're just talking about the vacuum system and not the whole car

I learnt what little mechanical knowledge I have on 2CVs, so you'll have to excuse me if my understanding of these things is a little basic.

I think he means teh entire carb! Thats what I did on Fake, and needed to do on Kar, make sure yuo do it on newspaper, and a digi cam helps when you after you forget how it goes back together

Yeah, take the carb off and take it to bits. If you have the time / inclination, do the manifolds as well. Check the manifold to downpipe nuts for tightness while you're there...if they're loose, it runs like a bag of spanners.

cheers

James