I have a 1984 VW Rabbit GTI. When I make a hard right turn the engin
sputters and sometimes dies. It acts like it is starving for gas. I does not happen when I turn left. I have also noticed that it get worse as the fuel tank get lower on fuel. Has anyone experienced thi problem, and might know how to repair it? Thanks
-- pkowalik
My guess is the fuel pump and or gunk in the bottom of the tank. Be sure to replace the filter when you replace the pump and or clean out the tank.
It's the pickup in the tank. I went through this dance on my '84 GTI, a different tank cured it. There's a plastic hose in there that's gone brittle and porous, and it's sucking air.
You could *try* to adapt a later tank with a secondary fuel pump inside it, but I don't think you will have much luck as I think that that design was introduced at the same time that they went to the space saver spare and smaller spare tire well.
I do not know if there are new aftermarket tanks available, but it's worth a look. I got mine from a Jetta GLI; I've been told that German production cars have this problem less often than Westmoreland ones. Whether that's true or just the tendency of VW people to revere stuff that comes from Der Vaterland who knows. I do know that the GLI tank lasted until I sold the car with no probs and my '84 Scirocco never developed this problem either.
good luck,
nate
I did not know they still did not have in the tank pumps in 84. I would amend my original suggestions and I would suggest the OP follow the suggestions listed by Nate.
BTW I will add one other possibility. You may want to make sure that the ground strap(s) are properly secured at both ends as sometimes you can get a bad ground causing this kind of problem.
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