Took the 78 on first road trip over the weekend. A little over 650 miles with no major problems. The car has a stutter or miss at between 2200 and 2500 rpm, which is right at 65MPH. Running with cruise on, flat road, no load, you don't feel it. But any little hill and you can. Have run 3 bottles of Techron through it hoping that would help, and it did a little. If you set cruise at 75 you don't feel it (2800 RPM). Changed distributor cap, rotor, plug wires,and plugs right before trip. Also tried another ignition module and it still acts the same. Replaced green wire from distributor to ignition module and still no good. Starting to beleive it is fuel related. Car runs good and accelerates well, it is just at this certain RPM. Other than the miss trip was great. Went and watched World Of Outlaws sprint cars. They have alot more nerve than I do. Antway, any and all ideas would be a great help. Thanks

 

LonniG, I'm heading to Iowa myself for Easter weekend, but the shark is stayihg home because it was showing the exact same issues as yours, only it won't start at all now. Have you had any luck with yours? - Ruf

 

Sounds like it could be the fuel distributor Lonnie. I had the exact same problem with my '79. There is a small metal piston that moves within a cylinder to regulate fuel flow. The piston and/or cylinder can become scarred or pitted, resulting in notchy movement at the low end of travel, and the hesitation you have described.

Another possibility may be that the eight small catch screens located within the fuel distributor may be clogged with debris - worth a try cleaning those out first.

If it is the internal piston/cylinder assembly you will need a good used, new or rebuilt fuel distributor. I have a used one that works fine - my mechanic had swapped it out with a rebuilt one while chasing something that turned out to be a hydraulic lifter problem. Email me if you're interested.

 

-You might want to get a fuel pressure tester and test working and control pressures before you come to any conclusions...another hot/simple tip is to drain the tank completely, wash it out with a gallon of fuel, then refil.

I had a 1980 Jetta with CIS that did what you are describing last year. ONLY...as I drove from Miami to Orlando, the problem progressively got worse...it got about 1/2 way and I could no longer maintain at least 55 mph. I pulled off the highway, looked at everything, scratched my head, and just decided to take the secondary roads. I got about 35 miles away from home before it basically quit all together...

[I nursed it home by letting it cool for a while; I changed the fuel pump and filter to no avail; I never did figure out the problem. I eventually sold the car-]

Good luck-

Normy!
'85 S2 5 Speed

 

Mine seems to miss at appx 6300

<img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

 

Normy, you've told that story so many times that I've developed a false memory of being along for the ride... <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />