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Fuel or Spark Issue?
- Thread starter spineguru
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Sorry, I meant to add:
You're right. If you remove the line and it's flowing strong, that's probably not the problem and you can just reconnect right then and there. You shouldn't have to drain the tank in any fashion. The only suggestion here is to rule out any fuel line blockage from the line to the tank. Maybe that's not the problem, but, again, if points, condenser, timing and spark aren't the problem, and if it runs but then shuts off, something sounds suspicious about the fuel. Just suggesting you rule that out by checking the pump and the line.
Good luck.
You're right. If you remove the line and it's flowing strong, that's probably not the problem and you can just reconnect right then and there. You shouldn't have to drain the tank in any fashion. The only suggestion here is to rule out any fuel line blockage from the line to the tank. Maybe that's not the problem, but, again, if points, condenser, timing and spark aren't the problem, and if it runs but then shuts off, something sounds suspicious about the fuel. Just suggesting you rule that out by checking the pump and the line.
Good luck.
D
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I had the same problem on mine when I bought it and once in a while afterward. I cary a can of compressed air in the trunk with a small plastic tube attached to it. when the car starts to run bad I blow the crap out of the line and it's fine afterward. The more I drive it the better it gets. I haven't had to do it in over a year now.
Mine would run at an idle and then cut out after about half a block. if you let it idle a while it would go a bit farther.
Mine would run at an idle and then cut out after about half a block. if you let it idle a while it would go a bit farther.
I know a TR3 driver that had fuel starvation issues and after checking thru all the major fuel and spark issues he claimed that the fuel bowl rubber "top hat" type seals were swelling up just enough to block fuel flow after driving for awhile. He says he trimmed a small amount off the top of the seals with an exacto knife and that solved the problem! Anyone heard this? Perhaps a softer type of rubber compound in newer seals??? I had the same issues you describe when I tried to start my 3 after a rebuild...turns out the fuel filter (that I thought I had changed previously) was plugged with bad gas sediment. DOH!
Had a similar problem with my TR6 last summer. Died suddenly after it was good and hot. Checked everything electrical-ok. After the engine cooled, I tried it again but no go. Next day, on a whim, tried it again and it started so I used it to run a few errands. Well after it got hot, and at my furthest distance from home, and on the busiest steet (underpass actually) it quit again. Towed it home and checked the electrical again because it sure seemed like an electrical issue. Tried starting at different times over the next couple of days. Sometimes it would start - sometimes not. Didn't have much faith in it so I didn't venture far from home. Finally switched out the fuel pump and had many trouble free miles for balance of summer. With the old pump, starting was random but when it got hot something would definately cause it to stop altogether.
Reid
Reid
Well, for those of you who helped last weekend, here is this weekends update. I was so sure last week that this was a fuel related issue, I was prepared to take apart the fuel system today (an even replace the fuel pump if necessary). I checked all the fuel lines today and there is no blockage. I am getting good flow from the pump while cranking. I even checked the flow "after" the first carb by pulling off the line between the carbs and cranking the engine and seeing the flow. It is very strong. Bottom line the carbs are getting fuel.
The carbs also seem to be working right. I did not dig into them very much, but I did check the floats and all seems to be fine there. there is also a good pull on the air side. I took the filter off and good feel very good pull if I put my hand in front of the air intake while I was cranking the engine (that little starter botton under the hood is a savior!).
The reason I was so sure it was the fuel side of things is that the car did run for a while last weekend. If you will recall it had died on me, and I couldn't start it. Then (magically) it fired up. It ran a while and died again. At that point I could crank it and crank it, but nothing. I sort of figured that something was wrong with the pump and that fuel had somehow made it into the carbs while it sat (gravity / equilibrium / something?!?!) and it started and ran long enough to burn the gas out in the carbs. It turn out that I made a bad diagnosis, and the pump seems to be operating fine.
Anyway, I now think the fuel is fine and that the elctrical is where the issue is. I of course have no idea why it died, started, and died again. I tend to think electrical things either work or they don;t so the fact that it started and ran for a while really threw me off.
Today, I checked a couple things electrical. Here is what I tried. Please tell me what your next steps would be. I am not getting a spark at any of the spark plugs. I pulled each plug and tested them by grounding them and seeing if I could see a spark. I couldn't. I also tried to see if I could get an arc from the plug wires driectly to ground (using a scredriver), which I could not. I also tried a timing light on all the plug wires and got nothing. Lastly, I tried the timing light on the coil wire and saw nothing. I am not sure what to check now. I have seen some posts on here that suggest replacing the coil and I have also seen someone suggest the condenser in the distributor. I am not real keen on just randomly replacing things until something works. If there is a good way to hone in on the problem, I would appreciate hearing about it.
Based on my little saga, does anyone have any ideas? My trouble shooting skills are clearly bad, as I was 100% sure it was fuel related last weekend, and I am 100% sure it is spark related this weekend.
I think I am up for one more diagnostic round before I have a flatbed take it to the mechanic. I really want to be DRIVING the car! On the poistive side, I am learning....
Thanks!
The carbs also seem to be working right. I did not dig into them very much, but I did check the floats and all seems to be fine there. there is also a good pull on the air side. I took the filter off and good feel very good pull if I put my hand in front of the air intake while I was cranking the engine (that little starter botton under the hood is a savior!).
The reason I was so sure it was the fuel side of things is that the car did run for a while last weekend. If you will recall it had died on me, and I couldn't start it. Then (magically) it fired up. It ran a while and died again. At that point I could crank it and crank it, but nothing. I sort of figured that something was wrong with the pump and that fuel had somehow made it into the carbs while it sat (gravity / equilibrium / something?!?!) and it started and ran long enough to burn the gas out in the carbs. It turn out that I made a bad diagnosis, and the pump seems to be operating fine.
Anyway, I now think the fuel is fine and that the elctrical is where the issue is. I of course have no idea why it died, started, and died again. I tend to think electrical things either work or they don;t so the fact that it started and ran for a while really threw me off.
Today, I checked a couple things electrical. Here is what I tried. Please tell me what your next steps would be. I am not getting a spark at any of the spark plugs. I pulled each plug and tested them by grounding them and seeing if I could see a spark. I couldn't. I also tried to see if I could get an arc from the plug wires driectly to ground (using a scredriver), which I could not. I also tried a timing light on all the plug wires and got nothing. Lastly, I tried the timing light on the coil wire and saw nothing. I am not sure what to check now. I have seen some posts on here that suggest replacing the coil and I have also seen someone suggest the condenser in the distributor. I am not real keen on just randomly replacing things until something works. If there is a good way to hone in on the problem, I would appreciate hearing about it.
Based on my little saga, does anyone have any ideas? My trouble shooting skills are clearly bad, as I was 100% sure it was fuel related last weekend, and I am 100% sure it is spark related this weekend.
I think I am up for one more diagnostic round before I have a flatbed take it to the mechanic. I really want to be DRIVING the car! On the poistive side, I am learning....
Thanks!
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I am an idiot! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/blush.gif
The + wire on the coil was hanging on by a thread. I had missed it before because the break was under the shrink wrap at the quick connect. What made me notice it this time was the voltage was jumping all over as I touched the meter to the terminal.
Anyway, fixed the wire and it fired right up. Drove it around the block a few times. Ran rough at first, but it was probably bathing in fuel from the 8000 times I cranked it.
When I have another nice day off (this dumb career stuff is getting in the way of my LBC fun!), I will check the adjustments. I messed with so much stuff on the fuel side, it is probably all out of whack.
K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) was never more applicable.
Thanks for everyone's input. If nothing else, you all did a nice job of educating me on the fuel and ignition systems.
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
The + wire on the coil was hanging on by a thread. I had missed it before because the break was under the shrink wrap at the quick connect. What made me notice it this time was the voltage was jumping all over as I touched the meter to the terminal.
Anyway, fixed the wire and it fired right up. Drove it around the block a few times. Ran rough at first, but it was probably bathing in fuel from the 8000 times I cranked it.
When I have another nice day off (this dumb career stuff is getting in the way of my LBC fun!), I will check the adjustments. I messed with so much stuff on the fuel side, it is probably all out of whack.
K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) was never more applicable.
Thanks for everyone's input. If nothing else, you all did a nice job of educating me on the fuel and ignition systems.
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif