I've been working on my mom's bug for about 2 weeks now. It need new oil cooler seals, so we dropped the engine, changed the seals and then put the engine back in. The car now has trouble starting, and I don't know what the problem could be. If I prime the carb, it will start and run, but it only seems to run on the little bit of gas we use to prime it and will stay running for maybe 30 seconds. Gas IS going through the fuel filter and up to the carb, but it doesn't seem to be getting any further than that. I disassembled the carburetor, and the bottom of the main chamber where the gas is was full of some kind of residue. I cleaned it up and checked all of the little jets, which seemed to be clear. Any idea why the car won't stay running?

 

Will the car run if you play with the throttle? I'd almost go with not enough fuel, possibly due to a vacuum leak.

 

Thanks for the response.

The car seems to start easier with throttle, but no, it doesn't appear to run any longer. Where could the vacuum leak be? Enough fuel is definately getting up to the carburetor. We checked it by taking the fuel line off of the carb and running it into a bottle as we started the car by priming the carburetor. If you can think of somewhere else there could be a leak, let me know. In the meantime, any more suggestions?

 

So you are getting fuel to the carb right? There could be a leak anywhere there is a gasket, there should be a solenoid on the side of the carb, it sometimes comes loose. Your best bet is to try and get it running and spray some carb cleaner/starting fluid around any area that has a gasket or seal (just on the the intake intake manifold, carb area).

 

I'll try that when I get home today and post my results, if any. Thanks for the help

 

No prob.