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stretchit2

stretchit2

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:confusion:Healeynistas,

Today my car was running extraordinarily well, until........ Driving home on the Freeway (note I live in Southern California, and today it was quite warm) when I heard a pop, and the car hesitated. Driving on I hear another pop, pop, pop and the corresponding jerking hesitation. I then pull over to the shoulder and notice that I failed to reconnect the hose connecting valve cover to my rear carb. (Earlier I had been working on the O/D relay, but I don't think it is related to that as the car had been running perferctly for about 25 miles.)

Anyway, other than the hose I didn't notice any other oddities.

Back on to the Freeway (note: this stretch is on a considerable uphill grade), car continues to Pop and miss. I pull off the Freeway and take another look, nothing unusual. I drive the car on side streets and it seems to run fine for two miles or so. Back on the Freeway and at speed (70 mph or so) more popping and missing. Side streets again, runs fine, until I go up a steep hill, more popping and missing.

Any ideas?

Temp guage was well under 190 degrees, but the air temperature was probably in 90s.
 
stretchit2 said:
:confusion:Healeynistas,

Today my car was running extraordinarily well, until........ Driving home on the Freeway (note I live in Southern California, and today it was quite warm) when I heard a pop, and the car hesitated. Driving on I hear another pop, pop, pop and the corresponding jerking hesitation. I then pull over to the shoulder and notice that I failed to reconnect the hose connecting valve cover to my rear carb. (Earlier I had been working on the O/D relay, but I don't think it is related to that as the car had been running perferctly for about 25 miles.)

Anyway, other than the hose I didn't notice any other oddities.

Back on to the Freeway (note: this stretch is on a considerable uphill grade), car continues to Pop and miss. I pull off the Freeway and take another look, nothing unusual. I drive the car on side streets and it seems to run fine for two miles or so. Back on the Freeway and at speed (70 mph or so) more popping and missing. Side streets again, runs fine, until I go up a steep hill, more popping and missing.

Any ideas?

Temp guage was well under 190 degrees, but the air temperature was probably in 90s.
Click to expand...
Since it's at spped and especially going up a hill I'd check the fuel supply, namely the pump, filters in carbs and fuel line for blockage.
 
Patrick,

Spot on. Installed new filters in the in line filters. I have two, one before the pump (real dirty) and one before the carbs (just dirty). Checked to make sure all the ignition wires were properly attached and went for a ride.

Took her on the freeway at high speed for about three miles. Took her up a steep road into the mountains (saw a great sunset), back home for about a ten mile loop and she ran like a top. Granted it was about 15 degrees cooler than earlier in the day, but absent any heat related failings I think that did the trick.

My buddy Steve always says 90% of fuel problems are electrical, and he is usually right, so maybe this time it was fuel. Thanks for the tip.

Jeff
 
Sounds like you have solved the issue. I had great fun (read frustration) with a not dissimilar issue with my old Healey back in Christchurch. Car started well drove fine at low speeds but if I put my foot down it would complain and shudder due to fuel starvation. After replacing fuel pump, filters and much tinkering the problem turned out to be the linkage between the carbs was loose.
 
I am back. The problem I described in my first post reappeard one week later. After replacing my fuel filters and a quick 10 mile drive on freeways and up grades and the problem seemed solved. However, yesterday, on the same freeway where the problem first appeared at the same gradient and almost at the exact same spot the car began to pop and hesitate just as before.

I was able to nurse her off the Freeway and going home she acted exactly the same as before. Ran great, even at speed on the Freeway as long as there was no up hill grade. Once home I installed a replacement fuel pump which I just happened to have from a previous problem which included an impressive misdiagnosis..... but I digress, that is a different Oprah.

Anyway, once I replaced the pump I took her back to the same spot where she had previously failed on two occasions and she ran perfectly. Hopefully that will do the trick.

At breakfast with my Healey buddies had many theories which were freely exchanged. Including water in the gas tank, dirty carbs, clogged lines. Only time will tell.

Jeff
 
I had the same problem driving cross country a couple years ago in the BJ8. Take one of the in-line filters off. You don't need two. The low 3-4lb. fuel pumps have a hard time pumping through 2 fuel filters if they get at all dirty. Especially at speed. Solved my problem immediately.

Randy
 
Randy,

I have one filter before the fuel pump and another just before the carbs, if one were removed which one would you recommend I remove.

Jeff
 
stretchit2 said:
Randy,

I have one filter before the fuel pump and another just before the carbs, if one were removed which one would you recommend I remove.

Jeff
Click to expand...
I'd keep the one near the carbs because it's easier to change. Have you had your tank cleaned out by a Radiator Shop? If you're plugging up filters you have a reason for that happening. Also, the fuel lines can get a lot of junk in them over the years. Not all filters pass can pass fuel at the rate you need for climbing a hill.
 
.Jeff, if you have any concerns about a dirty fuel tank, keep the filter between fuel tank and fuel pump. (then just position fuel filter where its easy to change.)

I don't think you said what fuel pump you are running but it may have built in filters, if so, just use the one before the carbs.

Take out the easiest one to test the theory and decide from there.

Randy
 
a new fuel tank costs $239.00. I tried cleaning an old tank, but messed up resulting in more rust in the tank than when I started. In frustration I simply resorted to Visa.The new tank was spotless, zinc coated, etc. I should never have hesitated getting the new tank
 
Keeping the new California gas in the tank too long will make them run badly, too. Sounds as if the posters here are having fuel pressure problems through dirty filters, though. I often use two for a start on a car that hasn't run in a while, then pull the first one in line from the supply and keep the second as the only for a while after that. Once they've run a while the system is cleaned out and the single filter is replaced and after that shows nearly nothing if the tank is clean.
My '65 MGB has it's original tank and the the interior is as shiny as chrome. Healey tank not so much.
Chris...
 
climbingshuksan said:
a new fuel tank costs $239.00. I tried cleaning an old tank, but messed up resulting in more rust in the tank than when I started. In frustration I simply resorted to Visa.The new tank was spotless, zinc coated, etc. I should never have hesitated getting the new tank
Click to expand...
It would be a good time to remove the fuelvfilters, disconnect the fuel pump and disconnect the fuel line at the carbs. Clean the carb filters as well as removing the floats and clean out the bowl bottoms. Blow out the gas lines with and airhose. You'll be surprised what's in the fuel lines!
 
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