Trabant Tech Forum

I will have a look at the filter and check the plugs in the morning when there is better light. If not I will need to get it looked at somewhere :-(

They are pretty simple cars, before spending the money, let us know what you discover, we may be able to walk you through on here.

That would be cool and I really appreciate it

A lot of smoke because of fuel starvation? That doesn't sound right.

Does he only run rough upon acceleration?
Does he idle or tick over OK?

Could be weak spark or fouled / worn plugs. This could easily account for excess smoke, low power and rough running, especially upon acceleration.

My husband and I had another look this morning. We took the plugs out (which looked new) and couldnt see any fouling (Pics below)

The fuel filter under the tank was clear and the cap was full of fuel. It does however have a bad leak and I suspect I will need a new one with a rubber as fuel runs down the sides even when it is tight. (pics below)

I tried to have a look at the Carb and there appears to be a leak down there as well which looks like it is coming from a screw on the bottom right. I have tried to take some pics.

Also I took trevor for a run and he is as flat as a pancake with more smoke than usual?

I had to put a hose clamp ( mini clamp) around the plactic filter bowl. The threads just would not hold enough to grip. clamp around the top, problem was fixed nice and tight now. Just dont over tighten it.

If you are having a fuel leak, that is probably your problem fix the leak and don't drive it until you do. It could start a fire.

I have slowed the fuel down to an occasional drip and should solve that with the hose clamp.

Until you have the fuel leak totally fixed, do not drive or start to car. Even a small drip can cause a fire. It is very dangerous.

The excessive smoking and poor running sounds like a float valve sticking open or something else going on with the float. Does the car run any better if you shut the fuel off (breifly until it runs out of fuel or causes negative pressure in the line)?

I did away with the petcock valve and replaced mine with a solenoid valve connected to one of the coils. And it works very well. I just have to remind myself to disconnect it if I am doing any electrical troubleshooting. The other day I had an issue with my headlights and kept turning the key on and off to energize the high/low beam relay only to find a puddle of fuel under the car. Also it's hard on the points if the engine is not running and one of them is closed.

For awhile I was having a fuel starvation issue and some backfiring. I originally thought the in tank filter was clogged. I can't access my Photobucket page at the moment (I'm at work and some sites pull up dodgy looking due to all the filters) but if you goto the bottom of the page on my link it will show you what it looked liked.

However when I was removing the petcock valve and solenoid I was running together at the time, I discovered I forget to tighten the nut on the coil with a wrench (was just hand tight) and the loose connection may have been what was causing the intermittant cutting out and backfiring.

Still the in tank fuel filter looked clogged up to me.

I did a fuel flow test with the petcock valve and with the solenoid valve and discovered I doubled the fuel flow from a 3mm trickle to a full 6mm solid stream. The car doesn't have anymore power but no cutting out or backfiring.

[USER=777]turbofiat124[/USER], have you checked your points too? They could be off a little?

I have given up lol and booked him into a garage in a weeks time. Until then I will put some new plugs in just in case.

Just out of interest can you unstick a float valve?

Good question. I had to recently tear into the carburator on my father's 58 Ford 800 tractor. Where it sat over the winter the float valve stuck shut from where the gas had evaporated and left a residue.

Dad said the tractor ran for a few minutes then stalled as he was letting it idle while hooking up his mowing machine. I asked if he if filled it up with fuel because I put maybe 2 liters in it at the most. No he replied. So hopefully all that happened was it ran out of fuel.

You can often fix a sticking float.

If you have a float or float valve sticking, fuel will usually drain out of the carburetor with the motor off and the fuel valve open.
So, you will need to remove the carburetor bowl cover and see what is going on.
Inside, you will find a brass float that pivots on a pin and presses upon the float valve to shut off the fuel when the bowl is full.

So, look at the float.
Is it bent?
does it hit the side of the float bowl?
Does it move freely on the pin?
Does it feel heavy, like there's fuel inside? It may well slosh if there is. A leaking float won't, well, float and must be replaced.

With the bowl lid upside down, check the float level. There appears to be 2 specifications, depending on float valve. If the float valve has a very thin spring-loaded pin, it's adjusted to 11mm, otherwise the float should be parallel to the lid at 13.5mm. You adjust it by bending the little tab.

If the float is in order, remove it to inspect the float valve. Just slide out the pin and carefully set the fragile float aside.

The float valve screws into the cover. Just unscrew it and check for any debris that might be holding it open.

Good Luck!