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Engine Will Not Idle

  • Thread starter Thread starter norcalsvt
  • Start date Start date Jul 22, 2005
N

norcalsvt

Member
May 4, 2004
88
0
6
San Francisco,CA
Jul 22, 2005
#1
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #1
Going crazy. Couldn't get the Street Avenger to drive without sputtering. It was a long drive home on the streets since I didn't trust it on the freeway. Put my Dp back on & now it idles for a few seconds & then it dies. Before I put the avenger on a few days ago, the Dp ran good. Starts up no problem idles initially around 1100 rpms, then the rpms slowy gets lower until it dies. I can rev the engine good, no hesitation or stumble, but when I takle my foot off the gas it dies. Tried all afternoon & night. Not sure if a carb problem or something else. Sprayed carb cleaner around carb & manifold & no rpm change. New hose on power brake & PCV, no change. I did notice the #1 plug wire came loose from the cap at the distributor & thought that would be it, but when I crimped it back together & reinstalled, no luck. Wondering if I can buy a single plug wire to replace the one in case my crimping job wasn't any good. It's a Mallory 8mm red. I now have to try & find a ride to work tomorrow. Hopefully someone has an idea of what I should do.
 
G

grego37

New Member
May 12, 2004
576
0
0
Fresno CA
Jul 22, 2005
#2
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #2
double check your timing then address the carb. maybe the idle circuit.
1100rpm at idle? does it need to be that high?
 
F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"
Founding Member
Dec 6, 1999
4,818
1
69
BC Canada
Jul 22, 2005
#3
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #3
Grab a cheap fuel pressure guage. Sounds like your fuel pump might be on it's way out.
 
M

mustangdave

My rearend needs a stud and two nuts.
Founding Member
Feb 26, 2002
2,976
1
56
North Carolina
Jul 22, 2005
#4
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #4
Swap out someones plug wire. If that doesn't work, check the fuel pressure, float, look for gas leaks...
 
H

hrspwrjunkie

Member
Dec 15, 2004
165
0
18
Jul 22, 2005
#5
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #5
norcalsvt said:
Going crazy. Couldn't get the Street Avenger to drive without sputtering. It was a long drive home on the streets since I didn't trust it on the freeway. Put my Dp back on & now it idles for a few seconds & then it dies. Before I put the avenger on a few days ago, the Dp ran good. Starts up no problem idles initially around 1100 rpms, then the rpms slowy gets lower until it dies. I can rev the engine good, no hesitation or stumble, but when I takle my foot off the gas it dies. Tried all afternoon & night. Not sure if a carb problem or something else. Sprayed carb cleaner around carb & manifold & no rpm change. New hose on power brake & PCV, no change. I did notice the #1 plug wire came loose from the cap at the distributor & thought that would be it, but when I crimped it back together & reinstalled, no luck. Wondering if I can buy a single plug wire to replace the one in case my crimping job wasn't any good. It's a Mallory 8mm red. I now have to try & find a ride to work tomorrow. Hopefully someone has an idea of what I should do.
Click to expand...

That definitely sounds like fuel starvation...probably not a plugged idle circuit because it changes over time and a plugged idle circuit will be constant. It sounds to me like a fuel delivery issue (either plugged line and filter or bad pump) or a problem with the float.
 

Max Power

Active Member
Jul 31, 2003
1,774
1
36
St Paul
Jul 22, 2005
#6
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #6
If it happened with both carbs, don't worry about the floats.

Probably a pump or filter.
 
N

norcalsvt

Member
May 4, 2004
88
0
6
San Francisco,CA
Jul 22, 2005
#7
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #7
I will change the filter again. I just bought a fuel guage & a cheapo spark plug wire. I'll install those & see if I get lucky
 

67coupe351w

New Member
Jan 31, 2004
424
0
0
Portland, OR
Jul 23, 2005
#8
  • Jul 23, 2005
  • #8
norcalsvt said:
I will change the filter again. I just bought a fuel guage & a cheapo spark plug wire. I'll install those & see if I get lucky
Click to expand...

I had a 302 give me the same kind of problem with 2 diffrent carbs.

It turned out I had a kink in a fuel line back near the tank that only was there durring suction from the pump so the engine would run until the carb ran out of gas.

I had inspected the fuel lines before but they all looked ok. I by chance went underneath just after it died and saw the kink slowly going away. Had I not found that I would have set the thing on fire.
 
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