"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
04/25/2016 at 11:03 • Filed to: None
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"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
04/25/2016 at 11:03 • Filed to: None | 0
| 10 |
My GTV6 is with my mechanic. I was actually just driving it up to him to have the thing given a thorough going-over, as it’s been sitting for a while.
However, this was the first time I’d driven it for more than 20 minutes in a stretch. I’d experienced some hesitation under throttle before, which I chalked up to bad plugs (they were in fact done) and timing. Possibly gas. I changed the plugs, drained the gas, checked and rechecked the timing (including advance), and hit the road.
After about 15 miles of driving the car began missing. Then bucking. Then stalling.
I pulled off the highway to a frontage road and got stuck at a light. The car died. After some panicked cranking, it came back to life, grumbling mightily, and would only stay running if I rode the throttle. Then it died again as soon as I lifted to make the U-turn to get to the shop. Then again as I crossed the street to pull in. Then it just wouldn’t start at all.
My mechanic, who’s an old-school Alfa pro, didn’t see anything like a missing vacuum line or spurting gas or oil that would give him concern. It’s gotta be internal. He’s going to give the fuel delivery system a thorough check, then move to the ignition.
It feels like vapor lock, but in my experience, it takes a good long while for the fuel temp to cool down enough to restart. My car did it almost instantly the first few times it stalled. He thought it was strange that the issue got progressively worse the more I drove it.
It wasn’t a particularly hot day - mid 70s. Dry air. The engine temp and oil pressure were all normal (or normal according to the car’s stock gauges).
Funnily enough, when he tried to start it to move it into the garage, it fired right up.
Bottom line, this one is probably going to be pretty expensive as the testing and diagnosis is an extensive process. I can’t wait to explain it to the wife! It’s days like that when I just wish I had a Miata...
Any thoughts, though?
Michael
> Chairman Kaga
04/25/2016 at 11:07 |
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Sounds like a coil or ignitor on its last legs
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Chairman Kaga
> Michael
04/25/2016 at 11:33 |
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Weirdly I JUST installed a brand new MSD Blaster II because my old was was dying. It would overheat and the car would just shut off. This is a far more gradual process.
RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> Chairman Kaga
04/25/2016 at 11:34 |
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Had something very similar happen to my mom’s 2010 Hyundai Accent sedan recently...turned out to be a coil pack / spark plug (shitty quality plugs, the plug in cylinder 1 was Done with a capital D...)
I was the one driving it the 20 min trip to the garage a few weeks ago - similar symptoms, although in her case, it would buck and miss on hard acceleration and I could feel it running on 3 cylinders when idling...but the coil was very sporadic, so it would be then be perfectly fine for minutes on end (mind you, I was babying the throttle) and then buck and stall and miss as you describe in your post.
Could be something more internal, but maybe coil in your case (as it would affect all your cylinders, not just one)....?
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Chairman Kaga
> RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/25/2016 at 11:38 |
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Brand new coil... but I’ll make sure the mechanic knows that as it MIGHT be some shit wiring (code for “something I did wrong while installing new non-factory spec hardware”).
Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief
> Chairman Kaga
04/25/2016 at 11:38 |
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Carb ice? That’s what happens when a carb ices up and melts and ices up again. Mid 70's temp though....
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Chairman Kaga
> Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief
04/25/2016 at 11:45 |
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Mine’s fuel injected. Bosch L-Jet.
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RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> Chairman Kaga
04/25/2016 at 11:46 |
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Hmm....well, good luck, hoping it’s too expensive! More classic Italians on the road = yay! :D
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Michael
> Chairman Kaga
04/25/2016 at 12:51 |
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Did you change out the condenser as well? Adjust the points? (assuming a points system)
BJ
> Chairman Kaga
04/25/2016 at 14:02 |
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Fuel pump failure?
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Chairman Kaga
> Michael
04/25/2016 at 14:50 |
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No points. I did NOT change the condenser. They’ve become pretty rare over the past few years for whatever reason and no one has found a suitable alternate part yet. I didn’t want to pay $300 for a “maybe going bad” part, although I might have no choice now!