I've had a new issue sudenly show up in my car. It's a 1980 with an engine from an 83. Recently it's started having problems when it's first running. When I first start it up it's fine and I can step on the gas and it revs up just fine, but usually about the time I get to the edge of my parking lot and ready to pull out onto the road that changes. When I step on the gas it will start to rev up and then just nothing, but if I keep my foot pressed down on the gas hard it will rev up after about a second or two. So basically I have to step on the gas and keep my foot on it until it revs up and keep it reved up while I pull out otherwise I get out into the street and loose power. I've never had it die on me from this but it does just loose all power and I have to keep my foot on the gas till it comes back. It only does it for a little bit and then it runs fine.

At first I thought maybe it was a clogged fuel filter or something like that, but it doesn't make sence because it's always at the same time during my driving session and always for about the same amount of time.

As soon as I can get the extra money together to get everything I plan on doing a full tune up (replace plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air and fuel filters, change the oil, all that good stuff), but I'm wondering if that's really going to help with this problem.

Another thing that I've notice, but I don't know if it started at the same time or if I just started noticing it because I was paying more attention to things is that when I start it up and it's idling I hear a clicking noise coming from the cluster. It's not loud and if I wasn't really listening to things I probably wouldn't have noticed it. I'm wondering if it's a relay or something and if that might be causing the problems.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

Given that a fuel filter is $6, just get one and replace it. It seems like this would be fuel related. It makes sense that you can rev it just fine when the car is parked, because there isn't the same demand for fuel as when your under load.

 

Yea, I plan on doing that soon. It's not just when it's under load. When it starts doing it, even just sitting there and trying to rev it up it still cuts out. I'll be extremely happy if it is the fuel filter, but I just don't see that being the problem since it only does it for a very short amount of time and it's always the same time into my driving session. If it was more speratic and just happened at random times I'd be more confident that it was the fuel filter. Almost seems like it's heat related, and that something just isn't working right at a certain temp as the engine is still heating up.

I just drove it earlier today and it didn't do it at all, but I don't have my hopes up since occaionally since it's started doing it, it hasn't done it for a day and then started doing it again. Hopefully once I get everything and get a chance to pull it into a friend of mine's shop and do a full tune up on it, it will be solved with something there.

P.S. The other reason I don't think it's the fuel filter is because I just replaced it about a month ago. Had to change the fuel pump and while I was at it I changed the fuel filter as well.

 

well sounds like your fuel system is dirty or clogged. get some sea foam run it in the fuel about 1/4 tank, drive hard. try to avoid cops. if that doesn't work try adjusting your a/f ratio. if all else fails rebuild your carb.

Also what fuel pump are you using now. that could be the problem if it started after you replaced it.

 

The fuel pump is the generic aftermarket pump that the parts store carried for my car. It is the cylinder type and not the block type. I'm thinking you're right and I might end up having to rebuild the carb. It seems to only have a problem when it's still warming up and the carb is the only part of the fuel system I can think of that could be effected by different temps. I'll have to try getting something to clean off the carb first. Maybe it's just linkage that helps it run right at that temp getting stuck.

 

Run a search for the fuel pump relay. They are known to have issues, and there is a workaround for it that involves jumping two of the pins on the relay connection. A very simple way to rule that out as a cause. The clicking in the dash could be the relay throwing a fit. Good luck....




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I'll have to take a look the next nice day I have off. I've now gotten to the point where I can at least avoid it cutting out on me when I try to pull out on the street. I've found that if I rev it up real fast a couple of times with it just sitting it will start doing the same thing. Then I can just keep stepping down real quick on the gas until it stops cutting out on me. I've also notice that when it does stop cutting out that the idle speed seems to increase a little bit and get a little bit smoother, so at least I know when it's done throwing a fit each day. lol

 

Fixed the vacuum leak with the insulator replacement. I made a thicker gasket for between the throttle and main bodies but ended up not using it for now to see how it'll run with just the new insulator. Currently holds idle at 750 RPM even down to 600 RPM. I need to change plugs to new ones and take her for a drive to see if the power loss issue is still there.




Oops.. posted on the wrong thread because I was doing it on my phone. It was meant for the thread "power loss at 5k?"
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