Stalling problem

[Tgriffin91 27]

Hi all,

 

Standard 302 motor. No A/c. Power steering. Everything on the car is pretty stock.

 

Recently I have been having some strange things happen.

First, my batter is not holding a charge very well. I will usually get one solid crank at the starter in the mornings and if she doesn't start I have to jump it.

I haven't done much testing on this as it just started happening this week and I am back to school so my life is basically over. I realized my battery plate is rusted and the holding block allows it move around some could the terminal touching the frame from it sliding around cause a drain?

Second, my car will randomly just die. It will be driving fine, sounds normal, gages all read ok and then suddenly no power at all. This has happened twice in maybe 4 months. Everytime I go to start the car again I have to hold the gas pedal to the floor to get enough gas for the thing to start. And then it runs rough for a few seconds and sounds good again.

Is this a carb issue? Needle getting stuck?

Third, when my engine gets hot is sounds like one of the cylinders may be missing every now and then. How do I figure out i this is the issue? Compression test?

I am new to working on cars but have a general knowledge and am handy.

Any help would be appreciated.

[bomccorkle 12]

1st: the morning starting issue, do you get to drive very far before it needs jumped again?? A few trips, days, etc? May be a dead/dying cell. Typically with good wiring and a car just looses power its an alternator issue but you'd sounds as if you have a bare wire some where grounding out intermittently, look for any place wires move or could be rubbed on first, start with ignition wiring.

 

With the engine getting hot and dropping a cylinder it sounds as if you're having an ignition issue there. Maybe a bad cap and rotor, worn spark plug wires arcing out or if running a newer style distributor a bad ignition module(which would also explain your random dying) let us know what distributor your Running, the ford style with the module on the side are pretty notorious for the warming up and running like crap and dying off bit, and are fairly inexpensive and simple to change.

 

If you still have power when the car is dying(you said you had to hold the gas down to restart) it may be a failing fuel pump and or filter.

 

Please don't skimp on the details and we will help all we can.

[Tgriffin91 27]

In the mornings I attempt to start it and it cranks over once and if I don't get it enough gas ad have to turn the key again I just get clicking. No driving at all.

I m suspecting the fuel pump perhaps. Maybe an electrical short there as well. I will look at ignition and starter grounds/wires and see if I can find anything. Stock distributor, so I am guessing that is my problem with the cylinder dropping. Could probably stand for getting the plugs replaced too.

Or maybe just go with a new setup.

I was wondering about the stalling being an alternator issue but I can tart it up afterwards. I feel like if it was a dying alternator it wouldn't start after stalling. Could be wrong.

thanks for all the help so far. Anyone else have similar issues?

[Tgriffin91 27]

Oh and when it stalls and I lose all power I would say it usually occurs within 10 minutes of driving or so.

[bomccorkle 12]

Sounds like maybe a battery short from within as well. Electric fuel pump?? Points distributor?

[bomccorkle 12]

If you have a voltmeter and a pal you can test the alt on the car. Just be careful.

[Tgriffin91 27]

Manual fuel pump and yes points. Its pretty much stock hat came from the factory. Although I guess some had electric fuel pumps?

Yeah I will. My gage reads right where it should for the alternator. I'm guessing it is a loose or broken wire somewhere