Car Quits At Speed :( stressed

YOU CANNOT just sit there and wish it will start

YOU CANNOT just sit there and look at it

YOU NEED to learn to troubleshoot and to check some things

Since this is obviously an ongoing trouble, arm yourself so that you can DEAL with it.

NEXT TIME it stops be prepared.

You have a shop manual?

You have a multimeter?

You have a test lamp?

Bag of Radio Shack clip leads?

Any spare ignition parts?

Spark tester?

Jump out and pull the air filter. HAVE A FLASHLIGHT with you if needed. Look down the carb. Choke open? Work the throttle. Accelerator pump squirt? Should be!!!!!

RIG you spark tester so you can see the spark.

CHECK for spark TWO different ways

A......Crank the engine by jumpering the starter relay. Any spark?

B.....Crank the engine BY USING THE KEY. This engages the "bypass" circuit. Any spark?


IF IF IF it quits let's say twice, three times, and ALWAYS immediately has spark but seems to be fuel, THEN..............

Spend the time and money to "rig" a temporary fuel pressure gauge. Now you can monitor fuel pressure and SEE what it's doing.

This is THIS IS troubleshooting 101. THIS IS the accumulation of experience and knowledge

THIS IS what we did before Al Gore invented the www

COMPRESSION.................has to have enough engine compression, and not burning so much oil / coolant / other that the plugs are fouled

SPARK...............................Good hot spark and at the right time

FUEL................................Just the right amount of good clean fresh fuel



Read your shop manual. READ about how to test fuel pumps, and SUSPECT and WONDER and QUESTION and CHECK and RE-CHECK. Is the vent system plugged? IS the tank developing a vacuum? Is the tank pickup sock plugged? Is the tank to feedline connector hose collapsing? Is the line to pump connector collapsing? Is the pump going bad? Is the filter plugged? Is there something wrong in the carburetor? IS IT GETTING fuel???