car turns off when i put it into gear

Discussion in 'Technical' started by duster70, Mar 22, 2006.

  1. duster70

    duster70 Member

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    car is an automatic column shift. this is what happens. The car is on park and i turn it on. When I change into drive or reverse, the car turns off. I bought the car with almost no gas at all and i havent filled the tank yet, so maybe its just that it doesnt have any gas. I wont get to see the car until the weekend and then I will fill the gas tank. Anyhow lets say when I fill the gas tank all the way it still turns off when i change the gear. I remember the previous owner saying that something might be wrong the carburetors timing or something like that. what do yall think the problem is and how could I fix it? any possibility it could actually be that the car has almost no gas?:huh:
     
  2. sierra grabber

    sierra grabber Certifiable

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    sounds like it needs a tune up. best guess without being there. are you letting it warm up before you put it in gear?
     
  3. bartikus

    bartikus Member

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    maybe it's idling too low. that would be my best guess. it sounds like it's idling high enouph to start but once you put it in gear the idle drops too low to keep it running.
     
  4. duster70

    duster70 Member

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    how do i change the idle speed??
     
  5. blugene

    blugene Senior member Supporting Member

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    Only change the idle if it's not within the normal range. I would say 550 to 700 rpms should be ok. There are several reasons why the idle might be out of spec. if it is. I would check things like timing, vacuum leaks, cap and rotor, wires, coil. Rarely is it a simple adjusting of a screw.:2cents:
     
  6. GTwannabe

    GTwannabe Member

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    check for vacuum leaks and that the choke is opening.
     
  7. igo1090

    igo1090 Member

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    i wouldnt fill it. put 5 or 6 gal in it. just incase it turns out to be a clogged tank pick up. its a pain having to take out a full tank. or pump it dry first.
     
  8. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    you say "turns off"...does this mean...it dies...:huh: are the dash lights on when "it turns off"?...frank...:bouncy:
     
  9. don graham

    don graham MCG State Rep

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    i would suspect a vaccuum leak. also check the fuel lines and filter. could be clogged and not getting enough gas. does it run okay if you rev the engine up? make sur the line is not kinked. like was said don't fill it up. just put about 5 gallons in it until you get it figured out.:)
     
  10. Radarlove

    Radarlove New Member

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    My car was column shift as well, and when id put it into gear it would idle down and shut off, like everyone else said check for vacuum leaks and choke.
     
  11. Bluegrass

    Bluegrass Jr. mbr. not really,

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    The problem sounds very much like the 'throttle stop solenoid' has come loose or out of adjustment.
    This electrical device is powered up with the ignition and becomes the idle stop while the engine is running by extending to a position that does not let the throttle go all the way closed.
    The reason this device was put there was to allow the carb to fully close at turn off so there would be no 'dieseling' at hot shut down. This closes off the air enough to stop the engine from trying to run after shut off.
    Without it's operation, the engine becomes loaded by the auto trans and stalls it due to the idle speed being to low.
    You have to find some one who understands what this is or get a copy of Haynes book and look in the carb section were all the info is speced for idle speeds and adjustments etc..
     
  12. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

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    Or just take it off and throw it in the garbage like I did because it's a piece of worthless crap.

    As other said, how does it run when you rev it up? Can you hear any hissing noise under the hood?
     
  13. duster70

    duster70 Member

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    what i mean by it turns off is that the engine dies, all the dash lights are still on and everything. When i rev the car it sounds good and there is no hissing noise. another thing is that the day before this happened i could change gear no problem with out the engine dying, but the day after when i changed gears, the engine shut off. Could it still be a vaccuum leak? do i need to take it to a mechanic to get this fixed?
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2006
  14. blugene

    blugene Senior member Supporting Member

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    Sounds like it:huh:
     
  15. duster70

    duster70 Member

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    update

    I hope somenone reads this post. I put in a little gas in the car and the car actually did run and move, but i didnt go more than 5 miles an hour since i dont have any brakes. Thanks everyone for your great help:)
     

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