Buffalo Dude

It's been unusually cold out here in Southern California for the past couple of days. Anyway, I was driving to school this morning when the light turns red. I was pretty far away, so I thought I'd coast to the light. On my way to the light, my car dies. I get it restarted, but it wouldn't stay running so I had to use the gas to keep it from dying again. Anytime I came to a stop, I could watch the rpms drop off to zero. Eventually I got it to keep running without gassing it and at a stop. Any ideas on what caused it to stop running? Could it be too cold and damp?

'75 coupe, L48, 3-speed TH400

Smokehouse69

Sounds like a choke adjustment problem to me. If you just got in started the car and drove off, I could sort of understand it. A carburated car with a choke, can be a little stuborn as soon as it is started in cool weather.

mrbeaubo

A lot of times these old engines will get cold in the morning and that is common especially for the first ride of the day, before school each morning start your car early and let it run for about 15 mins and see if it helps. Your timing may be off also, that's as much as I know.

C3Vettesrock

Does your "gen" light come on when u stop?

Buffalo Dude

Nope, no warning lights at all. I would let it run for awhile on the driveway, but i can't afford the gas :cry I think it's time for another tune up anyway. I know my car doesn't run so well when it's the first run of the day, but it's never stalled before, especially when coming to a stop.

woodworkr

You know I would bet that it is the fuel filter is clogged. Just by saying that by pumping will keep it running. If you have the stock Q-Jet then it is a small paper filter on the pass. side of the carb.
Hope that helps,
JoeB

1LE

Sounds to me like it could be a fuel filter . Easy fix.

Binnie77

What does unusually cold in southern California compute to? :nopity

ylose

probably like 80 degrees ! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

70PurpleLS7

The condition you encountered is "icing"... I encountered this a few times in the northeast and it wasn't "freezing" cold out... Maybe in the mid 40's. What ends up happening is ice forms on your throttle plates at the base of the carb from moisture in the air and the "cold" air coming in from the air cleaner when you first start the car. It builds up and causes the crappy idle condition. The first time this ever happened I pulled off the road, removed the air cleaner and could actually see the ice melting off the plates. Once it was gone car ran/idled fine.

Not sure of a remedy :( I always let my car warm up, but still would occur if the conditions were right.


[Modified by 70PurpleLS7, 12:21 PM 11/27/2001]

Buffalo Dude

It's not that warm out here! It was probably around low 60s, hi 50s. Coldest it's been in a while. Anyway, how do i know when the fuel filter is bad? Or is it just a $2 part and I shouldn't waste my time and just replace it?