1981 Chevrolet Luv eratic idle, dies, Chevy

Tiny
PAMELA0050
  • MEMBER
  • 1981 CHEVROLET LUV
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 180,000 MILES
I have a 1981 Chevy Luv 1.8L 4wd gas truck. It has been running great but all of a sudden it began back-firing and the engine quits. It does this whether hot or cold. It starts and re-starts easily but I have to keep my foot on the gas pedal to keep it going else the engine dies. The idle is either too slow or too fast. It won't Idle, really, meaning it won't keep running without my foot on the pedal. After this problem began I changed the fuel filter but that did not affect anything. Thanks so much for your help.
Tuesday, September 30th, 2014 AT 8:35 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC II
  • MEMBER
  • 222 POSTS
THE OLE ETHANOL GAS WILL RUST THE CRAP OUT OF YOUR TANK, ESPECIALLY IF IT SITS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME - IT MIGHT BE THAT THE "SOCK" IN YOUR TANK IS STOPPED UP

I HAVE "JUGGED" A FEW CARBURETOR VEHICLES WITH MECHANICAL FUEL PUMPS AS A TEST (BEFORE I SNATCHED THE FUEL TANK)

SIMPLY BUY A FEW FEET (LIKE 5 FEET) OF FUEL LINE THE SAME SIZE AS THE INTAKE LINE OF THE FUEL PUMP

REMOVE THE TRUCKS FUEL LINE FROM THE PUMP

INSTALL YOUR 5 FOOTER ONTO THE PUMP

STICK THE OTHER END INTO A FUEL CAN FULL OF GAS

CRANK IT AND SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT

THIS MAY SOUND STUPID- BUT IT WORKS! IT MAY BE EZier TO TRY FIRST, BEFORE YOU "JUG IT"

SEE "MY ANSWER" ON Sep 17, 2010 IN THIS POST BELOW

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/jeep-wrangler-1988-jeep-wrangler-engine-issues-when-braking

RETURN HERE (THIS THREAD) WITH GOOD NEWS!

THE MEDIC

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Tuesday, September 30th, 2014 AT 9:15 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC II
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WHILE YOU ARE AT IT

LOOK FOR VACUUM LEAKS

A SMALL ONE WILL MAKE THE ENGINE RUN FASTER

A LARGER ONE MIGHT EXHIBIT YOUR SYMPTOMS

LOOK FOR CRACKS IN YOUR HOSES, ESPECIALLY AT CONNECTIONS

LAST TIME YOU DID A TUNE UP? DIST CAP/ ROTOR BUTTON/ ETC/ ETC

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, September 30th, 2014 AT 9:23 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check r vacuum leaks an ddo a carb overhaul to begin with. Then do a compression check
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Wednesday, October 1st, 2014 AT 6:28 AM
Tiny
PAMELA0050
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  • 4 POSTS
Dear The Medic,
Thank you so much for this advice. No, it doesn't sound stupid at all! I use only non-ethanol gas (though not sure about the prior owner) but I know the gas tank has a small leak, and the truck has rust problems from being up north, so maybe that's the problem. I will try "jugging" it!
Pamela
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Wednesday, October 1st, 2014 AT 7:19 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC II
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KEEP US POSTED ON PROGRESS!

THE MEDIC
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Wednesday, October 1st, 2014 AT 2:08 PM
Tiny
PAMELA0050
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  • 4 POSTS
Hello, I did the "jug" test but that did not solve the problem (engine pops, can't get it to idle, revs, then quits). So I suppose it's not the gas tank causing the problem. The distributor rotor/cap is new within the past year. I don't see any obvious vacuum leaks. Could it be a bad fuel pump?
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 3:41 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC II
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LET'S GET REALLY SERIOUS WITH THE VACUUM LINES

PUT A PIECE OF TAPE (OR MORE) ON EACH ONE OF THE LINES AS YOU TRACE IT FROM BEGINNING TO END SO THAT YOU CHECK 'EM ALL!

LOOK FOR CRACKS IN THE BENDS AND ALSO WHERE THEY CONNECT TO THE NIPPLES AT THEIR DESTINATIONS

LOOK FOR HOSES THAT GO NOWHERE, FIND THEIR PREVIOUS ATTACHMENT. IF NOTHING ELSE, STICK A BOLT IN IT TO CAP IT OFF. LOOK FOR A "NIPPLE" MISSING ITS HOSE

MAKE SURE THE CARB IS STILL BOLTED ON GOOD, AND MAKE SURE THE SCREWS WHICH HOLD THE CARB TOGETHER ARE SNUGGED UP TOO.

WILL IT RUN FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME?

'NUTHER POSSIBILITY

SNATCH OUT YOUR IGNITION MODULE AND HAVE IT TESTED AT A POPULAR PARTS STORE, THIS IS USUALLY A FREE SERVICE. CHECK IT OVER AND OVER 5 OR SO TIMES TO INSURE IT DOES NOT FAIL AT ALL

CHECK EVEN THE STUPIDEST STUFF, LIKE PLACE WITH THE WIRES INTO THE DISTRIBUTOR WHILE SOMEONE ATTEMPTS A START. LOOK FOR WIRES THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN ON THE HOT EXHAUST, OR EVEN JUST RUBBED METAL TILL THEY SHORTED

YOUR TURN

THE MEDIC
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 6:20 PM
Tiny
PAMELA0050
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Hi, The allen screws holding the adaptor plates of the Weber carburetor to the intake manifold were loose. I tightened them and that solved the problem. Thanks for your help!
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-1
Tuesday, October 21st, 2014 AT 4:29 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC II
  • MEMBER
  • 222 POSTS
IF THEY WORK LOOSE AGAIN

TAKE 'EM OUT AND PUT A DAB OF REMOVABLE LOCTITE ON THE THREADS, THEN REINSTALL 'EM

I'VE SEEN THE NUTS COME LOOSE THAT HOLD THE CARBS DOWN ON JEEP CJs DO THIS COUNTLESS TIMES

SAD THING IS, IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE FIX, BUT EVERYBODY WANTS TO TEAR INTO IT EVERYWHERE ELSE, INSTEAD OF REALLY CHECKING "HANDS ON" TO BEGIN WITH

I TOO, WAS AT WITS END WITH ONE OF MY PREVIOUS JEEPS, YOU DO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE!

SO GLAD YOU GOT IF FIGGERED OUT!

GLAD YOU KEPT US INFORMED TOO!

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, October 21st, 2014 AT 7:35 PM

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