85 Cabriolet Stuttering Problems

85Cabriolet · Post by **85Cabriolet** » Tue May 22, 2007 11:44 pm

Well I'm checking out this 85 cabriolet and the body is in great shape but the engine has this stuttering problem, it starts fine but it runs rough and if you don't give it some gas it dies, let the RPMs drop and it dies even when moving. It does this until the engine warms up adequately but still is idling a bit rough. The owner said it's due to a dirty fuel system since the gas cap was left off in a rain storm. It backfires a touch, and is possibly misfiring on one cylinder. I was thinking on completely cleaning out the fuel system, new fuel tank, pump, filter, new lines possibly, seafoam? but it's also possible it's just really old gas since the car has been sitting for a while or maybe just bad plugs and/or timing. Anyways, any tips or ideas would be great, I would love to get this thing running smoothly and on the road!

I've been looking at cabriolets for a while and fell in love with them and this one is fantastic and a great price! Just this small problem

a bit over 201,000 kms, not bad for an 85 and I wouldn't doubt it considering the shape of the body!

CalAltaDubber · Post by **CalAltaDubber** » Wed May 23, 2007 12:41 am

This looks familiar from another board.

Ryan is that you?

85Cabriolet · Post by **85Cabriolet** » Wed May 23, 2007 1:00 am

You bet it is! Your fellow dubber is about to go topless!

After a bit of work *cough* *cough*

CalAltaDubber · Post by **CalAltaDubber** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:00 am

Well Ryan,

First, welcome to TRF. You will find the folks here are great.

Second, tech. info here is second to none. Some of the folks here are really good "wrench benders".

Enjoy.

Post by **Briano1234** » Thu May 24, 2007 8:06 am

CalAltaDubber wrote:Well Ryan,

First, welcome to TRF. You will find the folks here are great.

Second, tech. info here is second to none. Some of the folks here are really good "wrench benders".

Enjoy.

I am the exception to that rule.

CalAltaDubber · Post by **CalAltaDubber** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:35 pm

Briano1234 wrote:
CalAltaDubber wrote:Well Ryan,

First, welcome to TRF. You will find the folks here are great.

Second, tech. info here is second to none. Some of the folks here are really good "wrench benders".

Enjoy.
I am the exception to that rule.

Which a good guy or a good wrench bender?

Post by **Briano1234** » Thu May 24, 2007 3:51 pm

Both

after all I am not the whole ass of the forum, butt the hole.

Post by **Calimus** » Fri May 25, 2007 2:23 pm

You guy's really crack me up. Welcome to TRF Ryan, I think you will find that we are all certified nut-cases, so make yourself at home.

PDX Cabby · Post by **PDX Cabby** » Sat May 26, 2007 11:02 am

just run a full tank of good clean gas (Chevron - duh), then do all the routine maintainance - filters, oil, plugs & wires, timing belt. then see what happens...

CalAltaDubber · Post by **CalAltaDubber** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:46 pm

PDX Cabby wrote:just run a full tank of good clean gas (Chevron - duh), then do all the routine maintainance - filters, oil, plugs & wires, timing belt. then see what happens...

Isaac Where have you been hiding?

It's been a while since I've seen you post here.

Ryan lives near here, and thats pretty well what he is going to try first.

gull · Post by **gull** » Tue May 29, 2007 5:43 pm

PDX Cabby wrote:just run a full tank of good clean gas (Chevron - duh), then do all the routine maintainance - filters, oil, plugs & wires, timing belt. then see what happens...

Yup, start there. If it doesn't start running better after the first tank of gas, then worry about troubleshooting it. '85 will have CIS which, in my experience, is pretty tolerant of neglect. It's not tolerant of air leaks, though. You may find part of your problem is bad vacuum hoses, cracked intake boots, etc.

PDX Cabby · Post by **PDX Cabby** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:59 pm

i've been hiding from the internets for awhile

Gull - good call on the vacuum leaks!

CalAltaDubber · Post by **CalAltaDubber** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:22 pm

PDX Cabby wrote:i've been hiding from the internets for awhile

!

I was beginning to think one of your pets had you for lunch

85Cabriolet · Post by **85Cabriolet** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:22 am

Well I got some parts in finally, installed the fuel filter, new valve cover gasket. Well when I went to start her up it ran great for a few seconds then it started to sputter then eventually die.

When I turn on the power to the car on there is no sound coming from the rear of the car indicating no pumps running, however when I bridged the fuel pump relay it did start to buzz and stopped when I removed the wires, also the same buzzing sound happens for a second after the car sputters and dies. So is it some electrical connection to the fuel pump/transfer pump that's messing things up? The fuses are fine and the relay must be as well. The car will start but just dies, it doesn't matter if you give it gas or not it'll rev up but won't hold an idle then it'll die.I just want to drive this car!!!

I might be considering problem areas to be electrical, bad pumps, clogged fuel injectors/wires, bad fuel distributor? I have no idea anymore

Sorry if my post is incoherent, i'm just tired from working on this damn thing

gull · Post by **gull** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 1:12 am

The fuel pumps normally only run when the engine is turning. This is a safety interlock to keep them from pumping fuel everywhere in an accident. So not hearing any sound from the back when you turn the key on is normal.