Car won't run

'94ChickStang

Member

Sep 27, 2004

301

0

17

northern ca

Dec 8, 2007

#1

• Dec 8, 2007

• #1

My car has been running fine since my top end swap until last night. It started bucking and choking while idling and under load until it stopped running. Then it will start and run fine for a minute and do the same thing, I had to limp it home in the breakdown lane with the hazards on...

...I bottomed out the other day so I'll check the inertia switch first. Any ideas?

thanks

 

BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

3,133

18

108

Chicagoland

Dec 8, 2007

#2

• Dec 8, 2007

• #2

New HCI makes me think vacuum leak with those symptoms. If the inertia switch had tripped, you'd get no fuel at all because it would kill power to the fuel pump completely. Any coolant loss, or milky oil?

 

RIO5.0

15 Year Member

Feb 16, 2001

6,892

8

128

N.H.

Dec 8, 2007

#3

• Dec 8, 2007

• #3

Throw code scanner on that Betty....might just get lucky and have something there??

It just died stuff blows... ...good luck

 

'94ChickStang

Member

Sep 27, 2004

301

0

17

northern ca

Dec 8, 2007

#4

• Dec 8, 2007

• #4

It wasn't the sswitch but it's run ok the couple of times i've started it up today, I hate knowing it will happen again...

I'll check the coolant level for sure, no temp problems at all.

 

Zero_chance

Founding Member

May 29, 2001

1,244

7

59

44

Maricopa, AZ

Dec 8, 2007

#5

• Dec 8, 2007

• #5

Had a similar problem at my dealership last week. Turned out to be water in the gas.

 

BlackVert

15 Year Member

Oct 3, 2003

5,589

9

98

Bethesda, MD

Dec 8, 2007

#6

• Dec 8, 2007

• #6

sounds like water in the gas to me too.

 

Zero_chance

Founding Member

May 29, 2001

1,244

7

59

44

Maricopa, AZ

Dec 9, 2007

#7

• Dec 9, 2007

• #7

And the unfortunate thing about todays gas is that ethanol helps water blend in as opposed to seperating like it used too.

 

scorpion95

Member

Jan 8, 2007

35

0

6

Near Dover, DE

Dec 9, 2007

#8

• Dec 9, 2007

• #8

Yeah, try throwing some dry-gas in the tank and it probably wouldn't hurt to change your fuel filter as well.

 

'94ChickStang

Member

Sep 27, 2004

301

0

17

northern ca

Dec 9, 2007

#9

• Dec 9, 2007

• #9

thanks everyone!

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

34

129

Dec 9, 2007

#10

• Dec 9, 2007

• #10

I am not sure how likely water in the gas is in No-Cal. I havent dealt with it since Alaska so I might be out of the loop.

Going back to the comment about bottoming out, how bad was it? Was it hard enough to have unconnected anything (like a loose MAF) or did any debris skirt under the car (hitting O2 wires)?

Andy was right on the ball - pull codes before doing much else. If something like I mentioned above occurred, you might have a soft code stored in the KAM.

Good luck.

 

Yellow302

Member

Mar 2, 2003

789

2

19

42

NJ

Dec 9, 2007

#11

• Dec 9, 2007

• #11

sounds like blown lower intake gaskets, had to keep a load on it to get it around untill it was so bad it just wouldnt run.

Happy hunting