It advances the timing to allow the distributor to spark at the optimium time.
I had thought that it opened the fuel valve when the engine is running so that you don't end up witha flooded carb... that's what it does on my honda... for example.Beancounter said:What does the vacuum advance unit actually do?
pandafan said:It should be an extremely easy job; what problems are you experiencing ( dreadful grammar, I apologise).
There is no reason to remove the dis.
e505jpy said:Are you haveing trouble clipping the arm in or is it trying to get the bottom screw in?
Jim
Steve said:Use a small electrical screwdriver to help clip it in, to poke with if you know what I mean.
Steve said:Exactly. Fiddly, but once you've done it you'll see it's fairly easy.
pyrogaz said:Sounds like you have a traditional ignition system on the motor? i.e. Points in the dizzy, etc? If so sounds very much like a faulty condensor.
1986Uno45S said:Ok, check the obvious things first.
Did you remember to put the rotor arm back in the distributor? It's easy to forget and get non starting problems!
1986Uno45S said:If it is an electronic distributor, did you connect it back into the wiring loom?
1986Uno45S said:If it uses contact breakers, make sure you didn't disturb the contact breaker wires when fitting the vacuum unit.
1986Uno45S Check for a spark by removing a spark plug said:Will do, though the plugs look to be in good nick
1986Uno45S said:Are you getting any signs of life at all? Any 'coughing' or spluttering? If the engine refuses to fire at all, then I'd double check the ignition side before anything else.
Starter motor only. You get the feeling that the engine is trying to burst into life, but nothing else.
pyrogaz said:Sounds like you have a traditional ignition system on the motor? i.e. Points in the dizzy, etc? If so sounds very much like a faulty condensor.
Thanks mate. What does the condensor do?
christopher watson said:Condensors on ebay for 99p..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VOLKSWAGEN-VW-...QQcmdZViewItem
Cheers
wotnowarninglight said:Would put money on either hairline crack in the dizzy cap or possibly core of plug leads breaking down (go brittle with age)
I'd hope not, the dizzy cap was replaced three weeks ago and the HT leads two weeks before that
On to eBay now for some condensors I guess
Thanks for reading folks, fingers crossed I won't have to pick your brains much longer