I just had my Coupe tuned up at a shop for the first time in ten years. When I picked it up, I filled the almost empty tank and drove it home – about 15 miles. Half-way through the ride it started to sputter heavily. It seemed to be gasping for gas. I took it around the block today and the sputtering started almost right away.
So then, where to start? Check, test or replace the fuel filter or fuel pump? Play with the fast idle? Something else? The car had sat for a year and a half with almost no gas in the tank, until the tuneup.
I looked at the fuel filter; it has been in place for 5 years, but only 900 miles has been put on it (I gotta take this thing out more!) It doesn’t LOOK like there’s a problem with it.
When preparing to start the car, putting the key in RUN before ignition allows the fuel pump to tick rapidly, then slowly, then stopping, as (I trust) the line is primed with gas.
Note that my tach is not connected as my Coupe has a sedan engine in it.
Steve
Tuned up, NOW it sputters!
Re: Tuned up, NOW it sputters!
Hi Steve,
There is also a mini-fuel strainer at the inlet of your carb on the coupe. Here are some things to try....
1. Check that you have spark on both plugs. You could hook up a timing light to fire on cylinder 1 and then cylinder 2 to see it the light triggers. You could also pull the plugs and ground the shell to the engine while cranking. Look for spark at the electrode.
2. This test is more involved but will resolve if you have a fuel problem. Disconnect the fuel line at the carb and plug it (or do something so the fuel pump does not operate). Get a container of fuel, an extra fuel pump, some fuel hose and hook up a fuel supply to your carb external to the normal system. Don't worry about a fuel filter at this point if you have a clean container. You can run the fuel pump off the car battery or a separate supply (e.g. a 12 volt battery charger... older style. The newer style chargers work differently and are not meant to be used as a 12 volt supply). You may need to drain out the old fuel from your carb.
3. With the fuel line disconnected, you can also pump some of the old fuel into a container and look at it.
4. What was done during the tune up. What was replaced? I would take a look at where the wires and condensor are connected at the points to see if there is an improper connection. Also, check the resistance of the points when they are closed (will measure less than 0.1 ohms) and when they are open (will measure infinite ..... open circuit). Also, check the dwell and timing.
5. Check the spark plugs. Are they the correct number and correct gap (0.028 to 0.032 inches). And are the plugs properly secured in the cylinder head.
I am assuming the car worked before, you let it sit, you had a tune up done (did the car run ok when you took it in for a tune up?). I am suspecting a problem with water in the gas or an error made during the tune-up or something done at the tune-up has loosened.
good luck,
Dale
There is also a mini-fuel strainer at the inlet of your carb on the coupe. Here are some things to try....
1. Check that you have spark on both plugs. You could hook up a timing light to fire on cylinder 1 and then cylinder 2 to see it the light triggers. You could also pull the plugs and ground the shell to the engine while cranking. Look for spark at the electrode.
2. This test is more involved but will resolve if you have a fuel problem. Disconnect the fuel line at the carb and plug it (or do something so the fuel pump does not operate). Get a container of fuel, an extra fuel pump, some fuel hose and hook up a fuel supply to your carb external to the normal system. Don't worry about a fuel filter at this point if you have a clean container. You can run the fuel pump off the car battery or a separate supply (e.g. a 12 volt battery charger... older style. The newer style chargers work differently and are not meant to be used as a 12 volt supply). You may need to drain out the old fuel from your carb.
3. With the fuel line disconnected, you can also pump some of the old fuel into a container and look at it.
4. What was done during the tune up. What was replaced? I would take a look at where the wires and condensor are connected at the points to see if there is an improper connection. Also, check the resistance of the points when they are closed (will measure less than 0.1 ohms) and when they are open (will measure infinite ..... open circuit). Also, check the dwell and timing.
5. Check the spark plugs. Are they the correct number and correct gap (0.028 to 0.032 inches). And are the plugs properly secured in the cylinder head.
I am assuming the car worked before, you let it sit, you had a tune up done (did the car run ok when you took it in for a tune up?). I am suspecting a problem with water in the gas or an error made during the tune-up or something done at the tune-up has loosened.
good luck,
Dale
> I just had my
> Coupe tuned up at a shop for the first time in ten years. When I picked > it up, I filled the almost empty tank and drove it home about 15 > miles. Half-way through the ride it started to sputter heavily. It > seemed to be gasping for gas. I took it around the block today and the > sputtering started almost right away.
> So then, where
> to start? Check, test or replace the fuel filter or fuel pump?
> Play with the fast idle? Something else? The car had sat for a > year and a half with almost no gas in the tank, until the > tuneup.
> I
> looked at the fuel filter; it has been in place for 5 years, but only 900 > miles has been put on it (I gotta take this thing out more!) It > doesnt LOOK like theres a problem with it.
> When preparing
> to start the car, putting the key in RUN before ignition allows the fuel pump > to tick rapidly, then slowly, then stopping, as (I trust) the line is primed > with gas.
> Note that my
> tach is not connected as my Coupe has a sedan engine in it.
> Steve
Re: Tuned up, NOW it sputters!
Dale,
Thanks for all the thought and troubleshooting.� I apologize; I should have dug deeper before I posed the question I did a posts search for sputter and came up with one from Sept of last year.� The suggestion was to check the points gap.� I figured that HAD to be OK but I took a peek.� It turns out the solder on the blue wire broke (apparently on the way home from the shop) and the wire was making intermittent contact.� All I can say is, thank goodness for easy fixes.� Some fresh solder and now I am good to go.
Thanks for all the thought and troubleshooting.� I apologize; I should have dug deeper before I posed the question I did a posts search for sputter and came up with one from Sept of last year.� The suggestion was to check the points gap.� I figured that HAD to be OK but I took a peek.� It turns out the solder on the blue wire broke (apparently on the way home from the shop) and the wire was making intermittent contact.� All I can say is, thank goodness for easy fixes.� Some fresh solder and now I am good to go.