shaking and sputtering engine
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
shaking and sputtering engine
Hey guys,
I was hoping for some insight on a problem that I have been having w/ my 1978. Upon starting the car, the engine sputters, and shakes bad enough to shake the whole car. It takes the car a very long time to warm up, once up to temperature, it runs smooth. Just today, it died out on me on the street in front of my house, and would not restart. The car cranked/turned over, but would not start. It had a bad case of the shakes, before it quit running. Any insights would be appreciated.
Thank You,
I was hoping for some insight on a problem that I have been having w/ my 1978. Upon starting the car, the engine sputters, and shakes bad enough to shake the whole car. It takes the car a very long time to warm up, once up to temperature, it runs smooth. Just today, it died out on me on the street in front of my house, and would not restart. The car cranked/turned over, but would not start. It had a bad case of the shakes, before it quit running. Any insights would be appreciated.
Thank You,
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I haven't tuned it up yet. I just oil changed, and did the greese/oil/filter. I did not change out the plugs or plug wires yet. I just bought the car a few months ago, this is the first problem that I have had.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
How long has this been going on?
If it just started getting bad when the temperature dropped, check the choke pull-off.
If its working correctly it will open your choke plate slightly after the engine starts.
If its nonfunctional you will get the kind of behavior your having until the car warm up enough to open the choke.
If it just started getting bad when the temperature dropped, check the choke pull-off.
If its working correctly it will open your choke plate slightly after the engine starts.
If its nonfunctional you will get the kind of behavior your having until the car warm up enough to open the choke.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
During the oil change, I did look at the choke plate during the warming up stage. it opened slightly while cold. It did not fully open, even after the car ran for a while. I noticed that the hose that connects the choke tube was torn. I put another one on. It was not temp resistant, but I could not find one anywhere. Maybe this is the problem?
And yes, this is a new problem since the weather has been cooler.
And yes, this is a new problem since the weather has been cooler.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
I have to agree with the choke. Make sure the butterflies are opening and closing with ease. If they hang up you can adjust them a little by loosening the screws and adjust the them so they open and close with ease. It might be that it needs to be cleaned with a cleaner. If you adjust the butterflies make sure you don't take them all the way out and drop the screws down the carb.
Ron
Ron
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I loosened the butterflies, but it still seems as though they are not opening all the way. When I manually open the butterfly, the shake goes away. Don't know why it does not open up by itself???
Also, I noticed some black soot that blows out of the exaust pipes after I start the car. I can see it on the garage floor. Should I be concearned with that???
I am not mechanically inclined, but am trying to learn through this experience, working on my vette. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Also, I noticed some black soot that blows out of the exaust pipes after I start the car. I can see it on the garage floor. Should I be concearned with that???
I am not mechanically inclined, but am trying to learn through this experience, working on my vette. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
I loosened the butterflies, but it still seems as though they are not opening all the way. When I manually open the butterfly, the shake goes away. Don't know why it does not open up by itself???
Also, I noticed some black soot that blows out of the exaust pipes after I start the car. I can see it on the garage floor. Should I be concearned with that???
I am not mechanically inclined, but am trying to learn through this experience, working on my vette. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Also, I noticed some black soot that blows out of the exaust pipes after I start the car. I can see it on the garage floor. Should I be concearned with that???
I am not mechanically inclined, but am trying to learn through this experience, working on my vette. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Un fortunately, I can't look at and mess with your choke from here, but now that you know a little about how the choke works, you may be better able to figure out what's going on here. Good luck,
Scott
