Calling in the big guns! Please forgive the long post. I drive my Cruiser every 2-3 weeks around town, usually 40-45 mph max, with occasional freeway driving at 60-65, but I don't drive it as much in the summer because no A/C and Memphis is hot! I have an electric fuel pump which I only run for 30 seconds before starting if it has been sitting a while. I took a prospective buyer on a test drive and all was well until we hit the freeway on ramp. At about 45 mph, she just didn't want to go any faster and started stuttering. We eventually got her up to 60-65 and things seemed better but something is clearly not right (and it was a bit embarrassing. Sorry Matt!). Today, I drove her to get some StarTron fuel treatment and topped off with non-ethanol fuel. I normally don't fill the tank which I now know is not great when it's hot outside. I normally just use 87 octane 90/10, but now have a half tank w/no ethanol. Leaving auto parts store, it stalled when I came to a stop, but started right up and I kept driving. All was fine until I hit the fwy on ramp and same thing happened around 45 mph. This time I turned on the electric fuel pump and that helped and accelerated up to 70 mph no problem. I drove 5 miles or so at 65-70 and then I start getting some vibration and can see the steering wheel vibrate. This seemed to coincide with me slowing and changing lanes to exit the freeway. When I got down to 40 mph, no more vibration and everything felt fine. I turned the electric pump off and got back on the freeway ramp and accelerated no problem without the pump this time. No vibration at speed. I repeated another time, also without the pump, but when I slowed, got the vibration again which smoothed out at 40 mph. Electric pump on didn't seem to make a difference with the vibration.
I happened to be near a classic car dealer/service, so I drove through town with no more stalling or other issues and left it there. I'd love to point them in the right direction so diagnosis doesn't cost me a fortune. I recently had a tune up with new plugs, wires, rotors, cap, etc. I think this is probably heat related because I now remember I had a stalling problem a couple of years ago that happened on one trip when it was hot, but I usually don't drive it when it's too hot. The vibration thing that happened today is totally new, but seemed to happen when I took my foot off the gas when slowing from freeway speed. I took some video while driving but not sure if that would help. I read the recent thread about the 61 Lark suspecting vapor lock, but I would appreciate any thoughts you have. Thank you!
I happened to be near a classic car dealer/service, so I drove through town with no more stalling or other issues and left it there. I'd love to point them in the right direction so diagnosis doesn't cost me a fortune. I recently had a tune up with new plugs, wires, rotors, cap, etc. I think this is probably heat related because I now remember I had a stalling problem a couple of years ago that happened on one trip when it was hot, but I usually don't drive it when it's too hot. The vibration thing that happened today is totally new, but seemed to happen when I took my foot off the gas when slowing from freeway speed. I took some video while driving but not sure if that would help. I read the recent thread about the 61 Lark suspecting vapor lock, but I would appreciate any thoughts you have. Thank you!
Comment