Hard Starting Rabbit - ideas needed

[2strokebloke]

My friend bought a 1979 U.S. built Rabbit a couple of weeks ago, and it has been hard to get it started, but once running goes fine and doesn't stall or run lumpy. He's coming over tommorrow, and I said I'd take look at it. I'm going to check the sparkplugs and the air filter, I'm sure the thing is long overdue for a tune-up. I'm thinking that his starting problem may be vapor-lock since the car sometimes starts fine when the engine is cold, but always doesn't want to start when the engine is hot.
Any other possibilities?

[boschmann]

In addition to checking those items, it sounds like a possible fuel injection problem. The car has a warm up regulator that affects fuel pressure cold vs hot. You would need a CIS fuel gauge to check it. Also there is a cold start valve and a thermal time switch which prevents it's operation when hot which could be malfunctioning. You may want to look for an old Bentley manual.

[king4you]

hey try a bigger battery with at least 1000 cranking amps.i hope that helps.

[91 Passat 16v]

One thing that happened to me is the trany bolt in the back at the bottom was loose and the trany was not alined correctly. It started very slowly but when I tighten the bolts the started turned it over not problem.