Need some advice..
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Need some advice..
Here's the problem, I'm driving home for lunch, the vette is purring like a kitten....when all of a sudden, I stop at a stop light..and it dies. I restart it, and as soon as I take my foot off the accelerator...it dies. I drove home doing the accelerator-brake thing. It was a SUDDEN thing.....so I want to know what I will spend my 4 days off doing to make my vette work again...any possibilitites that you can think of that I can check would be appreciated. I am not a mechanic by trade, but I am learning things here and there....I want to learn more, because the last THREE times at the real mechanic, I've had real bad experiences....:cry (that's a whole nother' post).
So any thoughts...?
So any thoughts...?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Re: Need some advice.. (Laserjohn)
I will make a suggestion as something similar has happened to me on two occasions. And it does occur suddenly. The first time the car was disabled as you have described; the second saw the vehicle completely dead. This assumes you have checked for and are getting fuel.
The problem related to the ignition module in the distributor seen in blue below. It operates in high-heat conditions (obviously) and the internal circuitry can fail, either completely or in part. I do not know how to test them but a local auto shop can probably do the job for a small fee. BTW, now I always carry a spare in a rear storage compartment.
The problem related to the ignition module in the distributor seen in blue below. It operates in high-heat conditions (obviously) and the internal circuitry can fail, either completely or in part. I do not know how to test them but a local auto shop can probably do the job for a small fee. BTW, now I always carry a spare in a rear storage compartment.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Re: Need some advice.. (paul79)
and as a side note. My local parts store offered to test mine when I was having problems getting the car started. I said sure, if you can test it go ahead. He did the test and it came back ok. replaced other things thinking the module was ok...
Nothing was working. Replaced the module that parts store tested and it fired right up... Don't trust the test that they do, just replace it if its old. :cheers:
Nothing was working. Replaced the module that parts store tested and it fired right up... Don't trust the test that they do, just replace it if its old. :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 774
Likes: 0
From: Palatine IL
Re: Need some advice.. (Laserjohn)
Some things to check:
* FUEL
* fuel filter dirty
* fuel pump leak out weep hole
* stuck choke
* POWER
* ignition coil (on top of distributor)
* ignition module
* alternator and wires
* battery and grounds
* FUEL
* fuel filter dirty
* fuel pump leak out weep hole
* stuck choke
* POWER
* ignition coil (on top of distributor)
* ignition module
* alternator and wires
* battery and grounds
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,485
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From: Far side of the Moon
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Re: Need some advice.. (Laserjohn)
Oh man I hate these kind of problems... as I'm sure we all do. :yesnod:
One can only guess because there are so many variables involved that would take pages and pages to write about... but we can certainly try.
The easiest and least painful, check for a vacuum hose that may have come loose or off. Rattle the PCV valve and make sure it rattles (and is not stuck open).
Things start to get more painful after that. Next I would check the timing. Assuming it was set correctly before, it should still be O.K. A timing chain that jumped a tooth could cause your problem, but usually the engine will run (slowly), it just won't have any power.
You might check the fuel filter and fuel pump. Now I'm starting to guess. :confused:
To help us with our thinking, how does the engine run when it runs... does it just not idle, do you have plenty of power as long as you don't idle, does it miss or spit and sputter.
One can only guess because there are so many variables involved that would take pages and pages to write about... but we can certainly try.
The easiest and least painful, check for a vacuum hose that may have come loose or off. Rattle the PCV valve and make sure it rattles (and is not stuck open).
Things start to get more painful after that. Next I would check the timing. Assuming it was set correctly before, it should still be O.K. A timing chain that jumped a tooth could cause your problem, but usually the engine will run (slowly), it just won't have any power.
You might check the fuel filter and fuel pump. Now I'm starting to guess. :confused:
To help us with our thinking, how does the engine run when it runs... does it just not idle, do you have plenty of power as long as you don't idle, does it miss or spit and sputter.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Re: Need some advice.. (flood)
Excellent point! For some reason the module can revert to normal at ambient temperature but fail again when hot. That fooled me the first time around. Ideally the module should be tested in the car with a scope analysis when the engine is at operating temp.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: Need some advice.. (Laserjohn)
Sounds like a fuel or vacuum hose problem to me. Believe it unlikely that it's the ignition module, as these usually fail completely, and you said the engine died when you took your foot off of the accelerator and that the engine re-started right away, but would only run if you kept your foot on accelerator. Maybe your idle speed screw on your carberator fell out, or a vacumm hose fell off, I'd sure check stuff like this first, especially since this problem seems to have emmerged all of a sudden with no prior warning or indications of a problem. Could also be due to your distributor being loose/not tight, and it may have turned, resulting in timing now being too retarded for a good idle.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
Re: Need some advice.. (john's '81 mouse)
FWIW the last time those symptoms happened to me the needle/seat was stuck open. Must have been something small because it cleared itself after restart and never has done it again. But as previously mentioned it could be HEI module on it's way out or a new vacuum leak.
Good Luck
Scott
Good Luck
Scott
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 675
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From: San Jose CA
Re: Need some advice.. (gb4622)
To help us with our thinking, how does the engine run when it runs... does it just not idle, do you have plenty of power as long as you don't idle, does it miss or spit and sputter. [/QUOTE]
Before this happened, it ran beautifully. Started up everytime, ran alittle rich but still OK, and RIGHT before this happened, there seemed to be NOTHING wrong, it ran fine, no power problems(for a 305 engine :p: )
So I definitely am looking for something that, came off, blew out, became disconnected, etc. Tnaks for all the diagnosis help...
Sorry, I reread your post...yes it runs fine if I gun it, and there seems to be a hesitation before it kicks in.
[Modified by Laserjohn, 11:47 AM 7/3/2002]
Before this happened, it ran beautifully. Started up everytime, ran alittle rich but still OK, and RIGHT before this happened, there seemed to be NOTHING wrong, it ran fine, no power problems(for a 305 engine :p: )
So I definitely am looking for something that, came off, blew out, became disconnected, etc. Tnaks for all the diagnosis help...
Sorry, I reread your post...yes it runs fine if I gun it, and there seems to be a hesitation before it kicks in.
[Modified by Laserjohn, 11:47 AM 7/3/2002]
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Posts: n/a
Re: Need some advice.. (Laserjohn)
Vaccum or fuel are my guesses. When I had my vaccum leak I took a length of hose and made 3" plugs and plugged up every port except the line to the distributor where I ran a new hose. If she runs fine plugged then you have a vaccum problem and it's easy to find by reinstalling line by line until she acts up again.
I was leaning towards the fuel filter in the carb but I would think a fuel filter would cause a problem at high speeds as well as idle. Fuel pumps usually leak when they have problems or just stop working.. again if she runs fine at WOT then she's getting fuel there. Could try some carb cleaner too. I guess you could have stuck rods in the carb which would also cause your symptoms..but since these cars are prone to vac problems I would look there first.
I was leaning towards the fuel filter in the carb but I would think a fuel filter would cause a problem at high speeds as well as idle. Fuel pumps usually leak when they have problems or just stop working.. again if she runs fine at WOT then she's getting fuel there. Could try some carb cleaner too. I guess you could have stuck rods in the carb which would also cause your symptoms..but since these cars are prone to vac problems I would look there first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 5
From: Orlando,Fl,USA
Re: Need some advice.. (Laserjohn)
I would check the ground wires. Check your battery connections for tightness at the terminals and at the starter motor. also the alternator. I have found that vibration can loosen things up quite fast on these cars.If motion is the cause of the power failure it sounds like a loose connection somewhere.Or perhaps a wire that lost its insulation due to rubbing gainst something may be grounding out???
Hope its that simple.
Hope its that simple.
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 726
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From: Petaluma CA
Re: Need some advice.. (Laserjohn)
The first question might be history. You said the last three "real" mechanics were a real bad experience...how long ago was that and could the real mechanics done something to bring this curse upon you. Or anything you might have done?
Then the next step would be inspection to see anything obvious like vacuum hose detachment, gas problem. Some gas lines suck, some blow. A split or loose connection in a sucker will not be as visible as a pressure spot which could spray.
Then if there is something small, easy, cheap that you have been going to do anyway...like fuel filter, or that nasty looking wire connection near the coil...
If all that doesn't help, pray. And get back to the forum...I have really found some good advice here. :seeya
Then the next step would be inspection to see anything obvious like vacuum hose detachment, gas problem. Some gas lines suck, some blow. A split or loose connection in a sucker will not be as visible as a pressure spot which could spray.
Then if there is something small, easy, cheap that you have been going to do anyway...like fuel filter, or that nasty looking wire connection near the coil...
If all that doesn't help, pray. And get back to the forum...I have really found some good advice here. :seeya