[T3] F.I. -Automatic - Dies when slowing/Stopping

[Jim Adney]

On 15 Jul 2012 at 12:27, Stet Sanborn wrote:

> I've got a '71 Squareback, F.I automatic.  Last week, after 4 years of
> flawless driving, something strange started happening.  When I came to a
> stop sign (after the car had been driving for about 20 mins), it just
> turned off.  The idle dropped so low that the car stalled.  I put her back
> in neutral and was able to start up again.  At the next stop sign, she died
> again.  This continued until I got home.  

I agree with Bob. It sounds like your aux air regulator (AAR) which 
is electrically heated in a '71 AT, was sticking and has now freed up 
and is working. It's most likely that you just need to adjust the 
idle up a bit. Do this with the engine and the AAR warmed up, so that 
you're doing the adjustment with the AAR closed.

> When I got home, I noticed the spring loaded oil breather cap had
> popped open.  I snapped it back in place and the car started up and
> idled just fine for about 5 mins.  I didn't have time that night to do
> any more testing or verification, so she sat until this morning.  (on
> a side note, what should I see inside the oil breather? The spring was
> covered in gunk, the whole thing was filled inside with gunk, which I
> don't remember seeing the last time I was poking around under that
> cap)   

I think this is a separate problem. The white/yellow gunk is just a 
mix of oil, air & water. A certain amount of this is normal, and 
you'll get more in cool weather. The problem you need to fix is to 
keep that lid from popping off. Fix this by putting something inside 
the fingers of the lid to spread them back out and then immersing it 
in boiling water for a few minutes. When you install the lid, make 
SURE you get it pressed ALL the way down, so the fingers have a 
chance to spring out and grab under the lip of the breather box 
opening.  

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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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