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GETTING A FREE RABBIT TOMORROW!!

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1.5K views 28 replies 15 participants last post by  phantommaggot  
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#1 ·
ok i dont know anything about rabbits really
i know that it just crapped out on the guy a few years back and he just parked it.. so tomorrow im gonna take some tools, WD40, PB blaster, and a battery up there to try to start it... or atleast see if it will turn over..
if not ill have to tow it back later..
but anyways..
what else should i take.. as far as trying to locate the problem really fast..
the car isnt in bad shape overall and i plan on using it as a beater while i build something else, if it will run.
anyways..
thanks for any help
-j
and ill try to bring back pics...
 
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#9 ·
Re: GETTING A FREE RABBIT TOMORROW!! (DigitalK)

ya, i didnt even thank about the gas..
how bad does the fuel get? will it ruin the tank?
how much is a fuel pump and such.. at say autozone..
its a rabbit L i know that much it has long tails and square headlights
2 door disgusting white interior.. thats about all i really know about it.. o and its a stick..
 
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#10 ·
Re: GETTING A FREE RABBIT TOMORROW!! (DigitalK)

Quote, originally posted by DigitalK »
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Damn straight!
and about fuel pumps. Just check to seee if that ones working before you go buy a new one. a pen and paper maybe? just to write down [if anything] what you'll need to get for when it gets towed to your house.
 
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#11 ·
Re: GETTING A FREE RABBIT TOMORROW!! (phantommaggot)

Quote, originally posted by phantommaggot »

how much is a fuel pump and such.. at say autozone..

an autozone or napa fuel pump is about 120$ but its aftermarket and not bosch. A bosch one will run you 180-200 new. Not sure if autozone carries them or not in house.
 
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#13 ·
Re: GETTING A FREE RABBIT TOMORROW!! (DigitalK)

The gas should not be Horible in a couple years. Sertainly not Goo... But drianing the gas shouldn't hurt.
One quick word of advise..... check the points!!
My rabbit had sat for over 5 years and I replaced all kinds of BS just to be sure... but in the end the only reason it was parked was becuase the Points had worn way too far... and just because it LOOKs to be making contact doesn't mean it acually is....
And good luck...
A tire pump might not be a bad idea either.
 
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#15 ·
Re: (naterkane)

ok will do on checking the points..
ill probably try to take some fuel stabilizer..
but i may not have the cash.. lol im broke as of right now..
stupid corrado eats too much money
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ill probably check all the basic stuff i can think of..
i just hope it will run..
then ill sell the corrado..
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J
#18 ·
Re: (V-KLAN)

what i would bring...

Hand tools,pb blaster, duct tape,starting fluid, fresh battery, fuel,

Also since you are going to want to do a tune up when you get it anyway, would not hurt to get a set of plugs, air filter and a cap and rotor....
Oh, and while you are at the auto parts store, pick up a for sale sign for your raddo... you will be needing that when you get the bunny running..
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#20 ·
Re: (DigitalK)

where do you spray starter fluid in a FI car..
it has the injection badge on the back so im guessing theres no carb..
o and the motor hasnt really been as problematic as the car itsself..
i want to do a carbbed xflo, or a turbo xflo..
something that will surprise a car or 20...
but stance and fixing things will come first..
as will the FC i plan on buying with corrado money..
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Modified by phantommaggot at 9:14 AM 1-5-2006
 
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#22 ·
easy way to check the fuel pump is to take a length of wire and attatch from the battery + to the + side of the pump...
but before u do this .. try and listen to the pump whirring before u turn it over..
if she dunt start try taking out a plug lead to see if shes sparking.. to do this.. remove a plug.. attach to the plug lead and lay the plug against the rocker cover over the engine.. get someone to turn the engine over and look for a spark.
if u have a spark and u have fuel pumping thro i dont see there being to much of a running problem..
 
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#23 ·
Re: (phantommaggot)

Quote, originally posted by phantommaggot »
where do you spray starter fluid in a FI car..
it has the injection badge on the back so im guessing theres no carb..
o and the motor hasnt really been as problematic as the car itsself..
i want to do a carbbed xflo, or a turbo xflo..
something that will surprise a car or 20...
but stance and fixing things will come first..
as will the FC i plan on buying with corrado money..
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Modified by phantommaggot at 9:14 AM 1-5-2006

fc as in rx-7?
sweet cars always liked them for a Japanese car at least
my friend had an FB great cars i may be wrong but i think they may even be euro engineered
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some of the body lines suggest it and fender flares off an a2 line up perfect to the FB plus the strut towers are similar to vw took a vw brace bar and it bolted right on
good luck
 
J
#24 ·
Re: (phantommaggot)

Quote, originally posted by phantommaggot »
where do you spray starter fluid in a FI car..

Intake manifold, like stated above.... but I mainly mentioned it to quickly find vacume leaks... depending on how bad the leak, vacume leaks can cause anything from erratic idle to hard starts to not starting at all... Spray it around the engine.. if it revs higher youve found a leak. try not to blow yourself up though...
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#25 ·
Re: GETTING A FREE RABBIT TOMORROW!! (TeamTHP)

Quote, originally posted by TeamTHP »

One quick word of advise..... check the points!!

He said it has square headlights, And I do believe the rabbits with square headlights have CIS and electronic ignition. I could be wrong.
Stop by a u pull, and grab as many relays as you can get. You can usually get a handful for 5 or 10 bucks. All of my Rabbits crapped out at one time or another, and 9 times out of 10 it was a relay. Usually the Fuel Pump relay, because it flows so much current.
When you turn the key, you should hear the fuel pump turn on for a split second. If not, turn the key off, then on, listening down by the fuse block. You should hear "Clicking" if not, pull the relays, clean the contacts, spray some WD-40 in the socket, then re-insert.
Volkswagen is notorious for corroded fuse boxes. The antenna wire runs directly over it, and when the seal on the antenna goes, it leaks water right on top of the fuse block.

Good luck!


Modified by 83_WabbitGTI at 2:15 PM 1-5-2006
 
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#26 ·
Re: (azninferno)

ok, i think i heard the fuel pump kick over..
i didnt want to start it up as some vacuum stuff was missing but we rolled it down the hill, looked things over and i took some pics...
the only body problem with the car at all was the door was smashed a little..
but thats it.. no rust anywhere else that i saw...
the corner window on the driver side was left open for some time tho and the white carpet was knida green... but its coming out anyways..
and even odder to me.. where there should have been a positive terminal for the battery there was an odd red cable with a clip.
i cut it off...
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and tried jumping the car off that .. it clicked and the lights came on but i didnt really keep trying..
i took some pics and ill be posting soon..
o and ithas a freaking clock instead of a tach..
its a 1983 rabbit L injection.. dont know the color but its a steel gray blue color ish.. (wow that sounded dum...) with 117/// miles (if its not broken)
and another thing... the tranny dosent feel like it holds . like it would just roll in 1st. 2nd and R (didnt really try the other 3 gears..) maybe the clutch..
Quote, originally posted by azninferno »
ive sprayed it directly into the intake manifold. what year is the car? ill be down at tech in a week or so and id be happy to give you a hand. my bunny prolly wont be with me
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thatd be awsome.. im gonna call my uncle in c-burg and see if he has a spare bay in the garage.. as i dont have one here... but i dont know exatly when i can get the car as the only thing i have thatll pull th dolly and get to the car is moms blazer and its in the body shop... so if your back and its still up there you are more than welcome to take a trip with me and see what you think it may need... im no pro as ive never really had to work on a car other than my corrado.
 
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