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Freeway Stalling

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doates

doates

Senior Member
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Hi,

This is the second time that this has happened. Cruising along the freeway at about 70, commenting on how smooth an quiet the Spit is and all of a sudden it completely loses power and dies. I pull to the shoulder and can get it restarted but it doesn't have enough power to move itself. Called Hagerty roadside assistance and by the time I finish the call I can start it and it runs well enough to get me home (10 miles at slow speed).

The 1st time this happened I thought that it was a charging problem because the ignition light had been on but I thought I had solved that; new generator and charging at almost 14 volts right before I left today.

Any ideas?

Thanks in Advance
 
Have you eliminated a fuel problem? Check fuel filter and flow at carbs.... just a thought that it might not be ignition related.
 
Hi doates,

I`ve had similar problems like that in the past. Check your "COIL". I`d bet all the money "You" have thats the problem.

Happy Hunting,

Russ
 
toysrrus said:
Hi doates,

I`ve had similar problems like that in the past. Check your "COIL". I`d bet all the money "You" have thats the problem.

Happy Hunting,

Russ
Click to expand...

indeed. this has happened to me and a new coil fixed it right up.
 
It has a pretty new (500 miles) Lucas Sport coil. Not to say that it couldn't be bad already.

It ran smoothly coming home; I kept the speed down and never got out of third gear. I haven't driven it in about a month and yesterday when I started out it stumbled a fair amount for the 1st 4 or 5 miles; I thought it was cold and my choke doesn't really work properly. It smoothed out nicely when I got on the freeway and was perfect for about 10 miles.

Thanks for your help
 
The first rule of automotive repair states:
"Just because it's a new part doesn't mean it's a good part."
Why did you change the coil?

Try it again, do the gas cap test as indicated, then pop the bonnet and feel the coil case.

If you cannot touch it, you've either got the wrong coil or a bad one.
 
I am guessing a fuel filter is causing the problem. Check the fuel pump to see if it has some type of filter in it too. I had a MGB that would run on the highway for a few miles and then just about die out. Pulled over and that allowed time for the fuel pump to fill up the bowls, and then it would do it all over again. Turned out the fuel pump had a strainer in it that was keeping most gas from passing through fast enough. Once that was cleaned out, it ran fine.
 
doates said:
Hi,

...all of a sudden it completely loses power and dies. ...

Thanks in Advance
Click to expand...

He never states how it dies.
If it just shuts down then it sounds more electrical. True??
 
Or, the vacuum in the tank reaches the pressure of the pump. Usually, a plugged filer or screen won't go 10 miles on the Interstate.
 
if it had any thing to do with,...wood n it studder first?
 
I have, in fact, seen vacuum issues that sure acted like the switch shut off.
Basics......check for a suction when you pop the petrol cap after it dies (if you can even get it off), check the coil for heat.....pull the coil wire out of the cap, stick an old plug into it or hold the wire 3/8" to 1/2" from the head and crank it with key on. If you've got spark, and coil is warm but not hot, no vacuum in tank, we go elsewhere.
I will always remember the Popular Mechanics section called "Model Garage", the one in particular, guy jumps in the car to drive to the train station, car quits, parks it and walks, calls his wife from work, she walks to the car, starts it right up, and it drives for her all day long.
Nobody can figure it out.
Finally, the garage owner has the guy come down to the shop, and they go for a ride...and it quits. Seems he had a quadzillion keys on his key fob, for work, home and car, she had....the spare car key.
All that weight pulled down on the ignition switch, caused the connection to open.
You
Never
Know.
 
Dave, that's an old Click and Clack teaser too.
 
That mechanic in that "Model Garage" was named Gus.

And I couldn't wait for each months issue to arrive when I was a kid. Practically taught myself how to read with those great stories back in the early Fifties.
 
.all of a sudden it completely loses power and dies. ...

By this I mean that I can tell that the engine has no power. It does not sputter or cough and the dash lights do not come on immediately. Just starts slowing down and the accelerator pedal seems to have no effect; by the time I reached the shoulder the dash lights came on. My son, who was with me, immediately asked if we were out of gas.

Tomorrow I will buy a new fuel filter. There was so much traffic on the freeway last night I would not have been able to here an air hiss but if it happens again I will certainly check coil temp and for air lock. If it is a coil problem it should heat up under less strenuous conditions, yes? I changed the coil because I could not find a problem which turned out to be the condenser lead was not connected properly so I guess my old coil is actually OK. I was in the "willy nilly" changing parts phase.

Thanks Again
 
TR3TomG said:
I had a MGB that would run on the highway for a few miles and then just about die out. Pulled over and that allowed time for the fuel pump to fill up the bowls, and then it would do it all over again....
Click to expand...
Similary, I had a Subaru years ago with an increasing inability to climb hills or deal with other "loads," although it never died completely; it also turned out to be a fuel filter that was not totally clogged but enough so to simply not let enough fuel through!
 
And wait until you have one where you eventually find a second fuel filter added by some DPO in line somewhere and covered in road grime so you don't even see it!

Yeah, that's what I was asking on the coil. If the new one is getting hot, swap the old one back in and see. Cheap.
 
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