Hi all. My 1969 Cutlass S stalled out on me several times today while in gear and idling at a stop sign. I have not had it do this to me before.

Was a nice, 70 degree day, but I was in low speed, stop and go traffic for about 15-20 minutes before this happened. It would start right up again in nuetral, but die again when put in gear. Temp guage never went over 180, and it usually idles well in gear.

Any ideas on troubleshooting?

 

Sudden vacuum leak at a hose connecton or a cap?

 

Clogged fuel filter ? Too low of an rpm. If it ran fine before it might be fuel issue since the car runs but dies once put in gear or a load is put on it.

 

I tuned up my '71 last fall and had this same stalling issue. After checking timing, vacuum, carb etc... someone on this board suggested replacing the condenser in the distributor. Turned out the new condenser was bad, I replaced it and have had trouble free cruising since them.

BTW, an engine vacuum gauge is a good diagnostic tool to have.

 

Might be bad gas (insert joke here...). I did fill up yesterday at the local Shell.

oldsonharmont - Educate me here. Where would an engine vacuum gauge attach - An unused port in the intake? And what diagnostic information would it give me?

 

i'd dump some seafoam in the gas and give her another try. yep a vacuum guage would go in the intake. it's like any other guage, you get accustomed to where the needle is or how it reacts to different load changes on the engine and can give you a heads up when things change...

 

When was the last time you tuned it up?

Routine points block wear will do this, too.

- Eric

 

Most gauges come with instructions and scales on the dial to tell you what is good and what isn't. Just connect it to manifold vacuum and check at idle and part throttle then refer to the instructions. If you have no instructions, i can post a picture of mine.

 

Make sure your choke is opening all the way. Bad gas can be an issue also, as some of the other items to check.

 

Rob's post pretty much explains it. You can use them to find a weak fuel pump, late ignition timing, or a vacuum leak on your intake manifold. Just plug the rubber hose into any available port on your intake manifold. Lisle makes a nice one you can get at Carquest, or you can buy a cheapo brand at Auto Zone. Finding what's wrong with your car is gonna involve some trial and error, but I usually get pointed in the right direction here.