83 vw rabbit fuel problem

If it shifts at 3000 RPM's, then it is a governor, throttle valve, or throttle valve cable.

If the jerking happens under load (accelerating on the highway, going up a hill), it could be your fuel pump, but more likely your fuel FILTER.
If the jerking happens at higher RPM, it is more likely a misfire from a bad spark plug wire, fouled spark plug, or bad coil pack,
If you notice a smell of raw fuel when the vehicle is idling, make sure that your air filter is clean.
If the "Check Engine" light is on, have a local auto parts store connect an ODB sensor to determine what code is being generated.

Sounds like you may have fuel filter problem. you may want to check the pump and filters located in or near the fuel tank.
Go directly to the source ( Fuel Tank, Pump, Filters, Fuel Pressure Regulator and Injectors )
You may have water or grit in the fuel
Hope this helps

Previous owner may have put the incorrect spark plugs in it. Other than that your fuel filter could be blocked up. Worse case your cam could have a wiped lobe.

An automobile's ignition system may work fine while idling but fail during acceleration. Problem areas to be inspected include the spark plugs, spark plug wires and vacuum hoses. Car owners should look for spark plugs that are covered in oil or sediment or damaged, spark plug wires that have damaged insulation, and vacuum hoses that are unplugged or leaking. Fuel Problems

• The use of a fuel additive that contains both fuel injector cleaner and water remover can fix minor problems due to water in the gas and fuel injector clogs. A fuel pressure gauge can also be used to test the injection system to assure proper pressure.
  

While most acceleration problems are likely caused by problems with the plugs, wires or fuel, a variety of sensors and other components can cause similar problems. a bad tps ( throttle position sensor ) will cause causes transmission shift issues, bucking, jerking, idle surging, engine cutoff, hesitation on takeoff, and surging while going down highway.
good-day ! check and or clean maf sensor if need be. you can by the maf sensor cleaner at most auto parts stores.

here are the converter symtoms: decreased low rpm power, engine runs a little hotter then normal at cruising speed, exhaust leaks near header, bucking or jerking during accelerating, cats exterior surface temp cooler near outlet. if you suspect the cat of being bad take it to a garage, to find out for sure if it is, have a good day !!

That doesnt sound good. Check the engine oil level and top up as necessary. If the noise is still there, then you should take it to a mechanic to check. It could mean that you need to either replace the engine or overhaul it. Hope that helps

run the fault codes
check the transmission actuator and vacuum hoses

there is a good chance its just the linkage, which i believe the westfalias had, but, most of the older vw's used plastic shift linkage, if you look just behind the tranny, there should be some bars with ball sockets on the ends, one of the short plastic ones has probably snapped one side of its socket if not the whole thing. its like a 5 dollar part at the dealership, if it is infact the same design. it happened on my friends 83 rabbit, so i would assume they still had the design, hope that helps!

the hose betwin the engine and fuel dist cant have any vac leaks or hoses off or it wont start