what would cause total power lose while driving?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
what would cause total power lose while driving?
I have a buddy that has a 75 and he told me on several occasions while driving he looses all power and the car shuts off. I havent been able to duplicate the problem. Any thoughts?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
Re: what would cause total power lose while driving? (bhmyers)
When I ask him what he done to regain power...... he said he would take a piece of wire from the hot post on the alt and spark it against something and it would come back. I had no clue on that one.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
Re: what would cause total power lose while driving? (bhmyers)
so a bad ingition would cause this? wait a minute his fuel pump is electric and direct wired with a toogle switch, he indicated that that cut off as well which has nothing to do with the ignition.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Re: what would cause total power lose while driving? (bhmyers)
I don't know if ths applies to your case. I'm using an aftermarket mallory Unilite ignition which requires a ballast resistor and coil.
When the dist modual failed once in 14 years or so when it got really hot it would just quit. no spark to any plug. Then let it cool off for 15 minutes and it would run fine.
When the dist modual failed once in 14 years or so when it got really hot it would just quit. no spark to any plug. Then let it cool off for 15 minutes and it would run fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,845
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From: Apex NC
Re: what would cause total power lose while driving? (bhmyers)
If he is truly losing ALL power, including non-switched items such as interior courtesy lights, brake lights, etc then it could be a few things. First, as I mentioned, is the junction of the fuse block at the firewall. The hot wire to the ignition there is too small a gauge and the connection tends to go bad over time. Second would be an intermittent open connection on one of the hot wires at the horn relay. Check the fusible links and all the red wires running to the horn relay. Not sure if the '75 has the relay mounted on the drivers side inner fender like the '69.
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
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From: Huntersville NC
Re: what would cause total power lose while driving? (sb69coupe)
generic = bad ground. specific = I had a corroded connection at the negative terminal to my battery. I looked OK, but it was actually loose and corroded and falling apart. When I applied the brakes, battery would shift forward and disconnect. Once the car was at rest, it might restart. When I removed the battery to recharge it the porblem became obvious when the connector/terminal fell apart in my hands. :eek: MJ
A semi-loose connection (at the battery or at the fuse box or elsewher) can become disconnected when you hit a bump or make a turn, shutting down the engine, and loosing all power as you described.
[Modified by MNJack, 9:40 PM 1/8/2004]
A semi-loose connection (at the battery or at the fuse box or elsewher) can become disconnected when you hit a bump or make a turn, shutting down the engine, and loosing all power as you described.
[Modified by MNJack, 9:40 PM 1/8/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,209
Likes: 33
From: Texas-out west
Re: what would cause total power lose while driving? (comp)
I had that happen on a 67, turned out to be a bare spot on wire from dist to coil, bump and shorted and engine quit, check there or other wiring shorts. :cheers:
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 631
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From: Northern Virginia
Re: what would cause total power lose while driving? (LT1driver)
my 69 when i got it had a bad connection at the fuse panel infront of the drivers seat(but inside the engine compartment) i took it apart and put it back together again and never happened again! kinda sucked, driving then the car COMPLETELY shutting down lights, everything. - Bob
