Hi everyone. I need instruction on how to adjust my injection's mixture. I currently have no manual, have never done it before and need to get the car running today. It'll start, but barely, and won't stay running.
Thanks

--Ben
-------------
'85 GLT

Get the Bentley already!

It's got a section explicitly for the K-Jetronic system as found in the Turbos.

Dang man, you made me dig up the last IPD catalog that was sent to me. K-Jet adjustment tool part number T54630... $4+shipping.. it's a long 3mm hex drive thingy with a big handle. Page 30. There's a picture demonstrating how to use it. If you don't have a copy, go over to ipdusa.com and ask for one (they're free).

Anyways. I fear the fuel system, so I haven't messed with it beyond "oh man this needs more brute force than I'm willing to experiment with". From the picture, it looks like the adjustment thing is nestled in between the fuel distributor and the cobra looking air filter cover. In the picture there's no guard plate, on my car there's a guard plate to prevent damage. The Bentley makes it look like the mixture adjustment is more off to the side.

***But wait, there's more***. I don't think mucking around with the idle mixture blindly is a good start. If it's running.. at least check stuff first.

When you say it starts but barely runs.. does it run when it's warmed up? If it's nicer when warmed up, I'd start questioning all the cold temp fuel enrichment stuff: control pressure regulator, thermal time switch, cold start injector... not the idle mixture. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here, but these components can fail in a too lean *or* too rich mode.

Next: for best results you need to adjust the mixture *with the engine running* (Step 5, page 240-21 in the B manual).

Ever notice that little thing conveniently located behind the distributor, and right under the intake manifold? That's the control presure regulator.

http://www.brickboard.com/ARCHIVES/1998AUG/20008879.shtml

- alex

'85 244 Turbo

I'll have to look around and see if I can find the adjuster. I can't get the car to 'run' at all, just start, sputter slightly and die- never really 'runs'. I've ordered the Bentley, but it's not here yet. I'll check out the adjuster (and such) at IPD's site.
Am I correct, would it be rich if it were adjusted to run with major vacuum leaks? That's what I would think, and the inpression I get from how it's acting. Giving it gas doesn't help it run any, maybe makes it worse.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks

Well if it's rich to the point where it won't run (flooded)... the plugs will be extremely wet. Go pull a plug. What's it look/smell like? Repeated attempts at starting can keep the engine flooded for a while (at least it did on *my* car). If you can see/smell gas on the plugs, it's too rich. Spark plugs are cheap.

The Bentley describes how to check/set the mixture with the engine off. Basically you want to remove a fuel line from the fuel distributor and direct the resulting fuel into some sort of safe container.

Turn the fuel pumps on (they recommend a toggle switch between the #30 and #87 terminals on the fuel pump relay) but don't start the car.

They assume that mixture has been leaned out enough to eliminate fuel flow.. but you want to adjust it to the point that fuel begins to flow, and then back off by a half turn.

If you've already got fuel flow, I suppose you could lean the mixture out to the point of no fuel flow and start from there (no personal experience here). CW == more fuel, CCW == less fuel.

- alex

'85 244 Turbo

That's a great idea- I'll try that tomorrow. I failed to find the mixture screw tonight, but it wasn't very good lighting, so I need to wait until day (guess I have to get up really early and mess with it).

Thanks

Well I've messed with it some over the past few days with the advice given here and finally it started. I'm not sure exactly what I did to do this, but now it's working... I tried looking for the mixture adjustment I've been asking about, and in the process of doing that I removed the cobra like air thing that goes to the turbo, mess with the parts in it some. I also too out a mixture adjustment like screw/needle on the inside (pointing towards the drivers side of the car) of the fuel distributer, but really it should be back where it was to start. The last thing I did today was pop off the fuel line on the intake manifold (the one right in the middle, comes from the fuel distributer) and with it off (and a little cup under it) cranked the engine some; when I did that fuel came out. I put it back on and tightened it up (not too tight) and tried starting it. At first it didn't work, but then I tried starting it again (since it was sounding happier towards starting then it has been) and it started up and seemed fine.
Could there have been some sort of 'vapor' block there? The only other time I messed with that line was when I did the wire harness a month or two ago.
Now, I don't reacall losing any parts, but it could have happened so I'll ask- is there supposed to be a washer on that banjo hook up (that's the right name for that style hook-up, right?). I don't seem to have a washer there and I seem to remember seeing in some manual that there was one there.
Anyway, at least it started and ran. Still doing the dropping idle and catching before it dies when I let off the gas (in neutral). Oh well- 'nother project, maybe it's that cold start injector. I maybe have to try that rehab shown in that link (from Alex).
Thanks for all the help everyone.

>Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here, but these components can fail in a too lean *or* too rich mode.

Yep, another failure I had was cold start injector stuck open. Messed up the idle pretty nicely. Again, there's no reason to mess with the mixture since it's originally configured with a non-broken set of sensors, injectors, etc. Adjusting it is aspirin for whatever the real problem is.

On the turbo models there is a fuel mixture hex screw. Look on the fuel distributor, there should be a saftey plug (remove it). Turning counter-clockwise will lean the mixture.. Turn clockwise to enrich.. Mark your starting point, and never adjust the mixture while the engine is running.

Have fun,

William R.
1984 240ti

Do you happen to have, or are you (easliy) able to take a pic of it? I'm not sure which you're talking about, there are many hex screws, and I can't find any covers.

Thanks

I don't have a picture of it offhand, but the adjustment you're looking for is a small hole exactly between the black ribbed rubber hood over the metering plate and the fuel distributor itself. That whole assembly sits on top of your airbox in the very front passenger side of the engine bay. You may have to press out a ball bearing or plastic plug that currently is filling the hole, you'll have to pop that whole top off as if you were going to replace the air filter, then push it out from the bottom.
A very long allen key is helpful, sorry I don't remember the size off hand. 3mm is a guess, sounds right for some reason. Clockwise is richer and anti-clockwise leans it out.
I've heard never to rev up the car when you have the allen key in the adjustment, but this is the first I've heard about not doing with the engine even running. But then my K-Jet system is not the world's happiest camper right now. Never has been actually.
The Bentley manual has a sequence for adjusting it properly with a dwell meter, that might come in useful. I couldn't get it to work on mine though, but my car is in pretty bad shape.
Good luck. If you get yours fixed early you're welcome to come over and spend some quality time with my FI.
No seriously, good luck.
--
1981 242GLTi 1967.5 122S Automatic (Project)

I'll have to try that. As of now the car won't run, so I need to try waht I can and then maybe take it to someone who knows what they're doing.
I too am curious about the effects of adjusting it with the car running- I'm for sure not going to try it though.
Thanks for the info.

Just out of curiosity, what happens if you adjust the mixture when the car is running? I do remember dire warnings about not even thinking about imagining touching the adjustment you mention, and now I'm really intrigued.

Been a while since I had a car with K-Jet, but I don't think there's any "official" way to manually adjust the mixture. It all comes down to the frequency valve, control pressure regulator, plus the throttle plate and fuel distributor and some miscellaneous other goodies. If these are functioning properly there are no adjustments to make. The one time I had a problem that came down to a mixture control failure it was the fuel distributor and I ended up replacing it with a pull. Have you checked the control pressure regulator and other ancillary bits?