GothingNC

82 Targa, was running great yesterday after a 100 mile drive, no issue, stumbling, rock solid idle etc.

Today I got to start it and it revs up to 1,100 RPM nice and smooth and then drops down to 200 RPM chugging and snapping :-(

Pop-off valve is still seated, no air-leaks around the base of the pop-off valve.

None of the screws on the airbox itself are loose and the seam seems tight.

I also checked the distributor cab, rotor connections and all is fine.

Last valve adjustment/tune-up was about 7,000 miles ago.

Any suggestions where to start?

Thanks !

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Check for vacuum leaks using a can of brake cleaner.

How old are your fuel filters? (engine & in-tank).

Did you recently refuel the car?

GothingNC

Steve,

Fuel filter was changed about 3 years ago, 20,000 miles-in tank was not changed.

The fuel pump might be original, 130,000 miles.

I gassed up yesterday morning before going out for a long drive that involved stopping at a few places and I had no issues starting back up.

I will pick up a can of brake cleaner and check for leaks.

Thanks !

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Change that in-tank filter; its overlooked far more often than it should be and can accelerate the demise of the pump when clogged.

Measure the current draw of the pump.

GothingNC

Will do.

Just need to drain 10 gallons of fuel:-(

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Get one of those neat siphon tubes from Griot's and put it into two, clean 5 gallon plastic containers. No muss, no fuss and no fuel in the mouth!

theiceman

doesn't sound like blown airbox . have you checked the little screen in the warm up regulator ? if you disconnect the fuel lines to it you will see it.

GothingNC

Iceman,

I will check the screen in the WUR, thanks !

Sometimes reading all the threads on Pelican about CIS issues seems the same as looking up symptoms of a common ailment on WebMD, either it is minor or I will lose half my limbs and die

theiceman

yeah for sure .. hard to know what to believe .. but I definitely think it is something in the fuel control circuit, like its been stifled for some reason. I know you have that high tech lambda set up and relay and stuff .. I just think start out with the simple stuff..

GothingNC

Well it seems like I have a tank of bad gas,

My friend Sam that has Peter Zimmerman's old 82 SC Coupe tanked up at a local Marathon gas station in Clayton NC a while back and had the same exact symptoms I am having.

Also, I just found out it was the same gas station I used Saturday morning, the day before I was started having the issues.

theiceman

so whats the plan ? add some heet ? or drain the whole tank and start over ?

GothingNC

I'll just throw a match in the tank ;-)

I will siphon about a gallon out from the bottom of the tank where the crap probably settled and then add a bottle of Techron.

theiceman

take the old gas . but it in a water gun and build your own flame thrower .. I mean what could possibly go wrong. !!

GothingNC

Yo !

Hold my Beer and watch this :-D

GothingNC

Good news, all is well now.

I filled it up with a fresh tank of Shell gas along with a bottle of Techron.

It was still running rough and felt like I was driving a 912 but after about 15 minutes of driving the sputtering and snapping stopped and suddenly it took off with full power

I drove another 50 miles and all is well now.

Thanks for you help everyone SmileWavy


Lessons learned:

Do not get gas from Marathon gas stations

Do not think to yourself "Wow, this car is running great" unless you want to be slapped by Murphy's law.