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dying at idle

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Bill Redd

Bill Redd

Jedi Hopeful
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Lately, my TR6 has developed the nasty habit of occasionally dying when I stop at a stoplight.

Now, it does not happen every time...just maybe once out of five, six stops. Then, it will generally start right back up. Only left me stranded once, but the folks behind me were pi***d...

I've been looking for dirt in the fuel line, etc., but can't really find anything. I've also added something to dry out any water in the line.

Engine was completely redone about a year ago, as were the carbs. Seems to run well other than this one problem...

Any other ideas come to mind to help me enjoy my Memorial Day weekend?

Thanks!
 
Sounds like Eight Belles time and put it out of her misery.
 
TR4, I've tried that, and it does not seem to have helped at all. Of course, I'll have to try that again this weekend....

I guess I'm just waiting for that certain TR driver to look at my post and say "oh yeah... mine did that, and this is what I did to fix it..." Ah yes, I can hope, can't I?
 
DNK:

Isn't that the weirdest thing? A horse that is named after a nautical term that can mean that a sailor has died!
 
Bill, could be a vac leak that is intermittent.
 
do you have a points ignition? I had a similar problem with my TR4 and it was a bad set of points and or condensor. When I replaced them the idle went up (presumable because I had kept trying to raise it to solve the problem) and the stalling problem went away.
 
BillR, does the engine suddenly die or does it kind of shutter, sputter. and die?
 
..I 3rd the vac leak, if the engine was redone about a year ago it should have the manifolds/carbs re-tightened. they settle and need re-tourqued
 
Do you still have an EGR valve? If so, make sure that t is closed and disconnect it and plug the vacuum line.

Do you have the Anti Run On Valve connected? If so, pull just one of the wires off of that and try it. You will notice that your oil light will not work, but that's only temporary because the wire is off. This valve may be opening on it's own and allowing the mixture to be leaned out when stopped, thus causing your intermittent condition, so disconnecting when cold, then driving thru warm up and while hot will possibly tell the tale.
 
Poolboy:

It's more of a quick death...

I'll have to re-check the carbs, and tighten things up if it needs it.

The vacuum stuff seems to make sense. I've checked some of the prior posts, to give me something to go on.
 
Sounds to me like ethanol poisoning. Up your grade of gasoline for a tankful and see what happens.
 
Have you checked the bypass valves? If the stalling occurs when hot it may be that they are not working. The rubber diaphragm becomes hard and brittle with age and then the valve does not function properly. I have also seen them so bad that there were actual segments of it missing which creates a big vacuum leak.
 
In the spirit of tightening things down, I started at the fuel pump. I was surprised when I could turn each of the screws (at least a quarter to half turn) that hold together the upper and lower body of the fuel pump....

I started at that point because, even to my untrained eye it, it looked as if there may have been a leak there... :wall:

Drove the car for about 15 miles through city streets, and it never stalled. I'll keep my fingers crossed!!!
 
Not to hijack this thread, but my 71 TR6 does not have one of the vacuum hoses to the distributor hooked up. Ever since I had the mechanic install electronic ignition about 5 years ago, the vacuum line from the forward carb is capped off and there is no line hooked to the rear facing side of the distributor. Is this not necessary with electronic ignition? (The rearward carb is still connected via vacuum line to the forward side of the distributor.)
 
My tightening up the fuel pump fixed the problem!

I'm going to check the manifold and carbs just to be sure, but I drove for about 40 miles today, and it did not stall out once. The same theory of the carbs needing to be tightened down awhile after a rebuild holds true for the fuel pump.

My thanks to all for your help. Hopefully you'll get a chance to get out and enjoy your LBC this weekend (whether it's running or not!)
 
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