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Posted by: mbrown3039 Mar 1 2009, 10:55 PM

So, I bled the brakes today (by myself -- go Motive Power Bleeder!) and decided it was time to take the blue bomb around the block for a test spin (and first drive since I got her!). I jump started her (still need a new battery, but I don't want to buy one that'll just sit and go bad if the car doesn't run) and let it run for a bit, then went for an unsuccesful test drive around the block. Here's the symptomology:

1. The fuel pump runs constantly. And not a pleasant "hum" or "whirr," but an oscillating, loud "buzz."

2. When the engine was cold, if I gave it gas the engine would stumble. When I released the gas pedal, it would return to a relatively smooth idle.

3. Once it warmed up (idle smoothed out a bit extra), I drove off and discovered that once I hit about 3K rpm, the engine would stumble and lose power. The car stalled halfway around the block (luckily, I chose to go uphill first) and -- with no good battery -- I gave it one good push and coasted home.

Aside from a general tune-up, what else is going on here? Also, next to each spark plug there's a tube with a threaded end (but nothing attached to any of the four) and I saw some wisps of smoke coming out of them -- what are they for? Am I missing some engine parts?

As always, thanks in advance, Mike

Posted by: type47 Mar 2 2009, 06:56 AM

What year and engine and FI or carbs? My first thought is dwell and timing and working vacuum advance.

Posted by: mbrown3039 Mar 2 2009, 09:06 AM

Oops! Sorry about that -- she's a '76 FI. M

Posted by: underthetire Mar 2 2009, 12:57 PM

Get a battery. Iv'e seen, and had, a lot of issues with bad batteries. If a cell is shorted it can drop your charging system down so things go kinda funny. I even had a 3 month old battery die in my jeep on HWY 5 leaving me stuck at a rest stop in the poring rain. At it was not even a cheap battery!