Engine wants to die at stop lights

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cdawglean

cdawglean

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I drove my Dart 340 this weekend down the interstate for about 20 miles. After I got off the interstate and was on my way home through the stop lights the car wanted to die when sitting at a red light. Then when I would try and go on green the car would hesitate before going. I'm thinking there may be a problem with the carb but is there something else I should be checking?
 
before you get into re-tuning or changing out the carb, dbl check for a vacume leak around the carb. Ensure all hoses are connected at the carb where they should be. run the engine at idle after warming up. spray carb cleaner near the base of the carb where it meets the intake manifold. You"ll hear the carb change its tone and gurgle just a bit if theres a leak.

also check the pcv valve on the valve cover. when they go bad its a big vacuum prob.

are there any electrical issues that are happening at the same time? dimming of lights etc.
 
No electrical problems. And it only seems to happen after driving it at a high rpm for 20min. Just quick in town trips and going to work doesn't seem to trigger it.
 
Sounds like it's carburetor and or fuel related. Does it run well before it heats up good? Could be overheating the fuel in the lines and carburetor. What carburetor are we talking about? One thing you can try. Clamp on several wooden clothes pins on the metal fuel line. Many as you can get. Drive it and see it the problem goes away. If it does, then the clothes pins are removing excess heat from the fuel lines and they need to be relocated or insulated somehow. If that does not make a difference, then it is probably in the carburetor itself. It might just need adjustments.
 
StrokerScamp said:
Clamp on several wooden clothes pins on the metal fuel line. Many as you can get. Drive it and see it the problem goes away. If it does, then the clothes pins are removing excess heat from the fuel lines and they need to be relocated or insulated somehow. If that does not make a difference, then it is probably in the carburetor itself. It might just need adjustments.
Click to expand...

Now that is a genuinely neat idea to try! Would have never thought of that.

Does it really work??
 
kenicb said:
are there any electrical issues that are happening at the same time? dimming of lights etc.
Click to expand...

I thought dimming lights on these older cars was "normal" when the engine idles too low, as in when it wants to die out?

I have a big cam in my 318 and when she idles in drive the lights do dim....no problem once I get off of idle.
 
shadango said:
Now that is a genuinely neat idea to try! Would have never thought of that.

Does it really work??
Click to expand...

Yes. If the problem is boiling fuel in the lines, it works well. Only as a diagnosis tool though....although I've seen people leave them on permanently. lol
 
shadango said:
I thought dimming lights on these older cars was "normal" when the engine idles too low, as in when it wants to die out?

I have a big cam in my 318 and when she idles in drive the lights do dim....no problem once I get off of idle.
Click to expand...

It is normal if you still have the stock electronics. There are several upgrades you can do to prevent that, though. But from his description, I think you nailed it as being a normal thing.
 
I'll give the clothespins a shot. It makes sense since I have the Headers installed it brings the heat up inside the engine bay. What is good to use on the fuel lines to insulate if this does end up being the problem? The Carb is a Street Avenger 650. Car runs great during normal stop and go operation even at the track I didnt have any trouble even doing 4-5 runs in row.
 
thats because they were not really in a row. you had to wait your turn in the staging lanes car (engine bay) cooled a little. wrap your headers with some heat tape if the fuel boiling is your problem it will probably quit.
 
You see......Thats why I like it here at FABO,you can always get good advice.I to am having the same problem.I was going to go with a lower rated Tstat,but I think I'll try the clothes pins first
 
Well,I got off work went home to try some clothes pins,but since the weather here has dried up some my loving wife hung the laundry out so I rapped my line with foil took the the old girl out for a drive on the interstate and then some and low and behold no stalling issues.So now I know what the problem is how can I fix it without using foil?
 
Rout the fuel line as far way from heat as you can. IE the headers and heads. A carb spacer will help too. And or you can get heat wrap for the lines.
 
I might try to re-rout the line.What ashame though.It took me 3 or 4 tries to get it bent to look factory.No big deal
 
How old is the gasoline. Did you use stabilizer. first things first My Harley as well as my Duster hate old fuel
 
Nay,just put about 20 bucks in been running alot of fuel through it still breaking it in.I've been thinking about the carb spacer idea though.
 
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