jwillman

WUR? My understanding is the wires going to WUR are tied to a heating element to adjust for warm operation.

Car runs well as long as I don't want to signal a direction change

Seems to me WUR wiring would not cause such drastic immediate changes in engine speed. Am I missing something?

vze2jshn

A few times over the years on my '78 I've had a bucking situation at different speeds/rpms and it was a malfunctioning WUR. So I thought checking the wires at the WUR might be a long shot possibility.

jwillman

So on the drive to work this morning the car ran fine. Absolutely no surge when using the turn signals.

I did pull the turn signal stalk out last night but saw no issues and reinstalled. perhaps a dirty connection or an intermittent problem which I really hate!!

jwillman

Update.

Drove fine Monday thru Wednesday. Thursday morning and drive home the surging returned when using turn signal.

Friday trip to and from work - No Issues! What the hell!!!!

The Deputy

Simple fix...move to Michigan...no one uses their blinkers here.

But seriously...about the only thing I might do in your case would be, drop the CE panel and drive it with it laying on the floor. Maybe some wiring has melted together or a couple connections are touching while its in place.

I'd probably clean all grounds, at every known location.

Good luck, intermittent issues can be the worse type.

Brian.

Mrmerlin

send Alan a note and see if he will investigate the shorting possibilities,
he is the best for this issue

jwillman

Yet a different symptom today.

Started the car to go run some errands and car started and then began running rough as it had last week, i.e. like it was running on partial cylinders.

I let it be for about 30 seconds and it smooth out until I put the car into reverse. As soon as it went into reverse I got the surge just like I had before with the turn signal only this time it ran very roughly until I pulled it out of gear.
at which point it ran smoothly and responded to throttle smoothly.

I repeatedly put it into reverse, clutch still depressed, and each time it would immediately run rough and be unresponsive to throttle. It did this half dozen times and then ran fine in reverse but still surged when using turn signals.

I made two stops and on the way home from the last noticed that I could use the turn signals with no surging.

This just keeps getting better!

I need to look at the wiring diagram but only thing electrical in the reverse circuit is the reverse lights, correct?

ltoolio

Throwing this out, and I may be completely off here (very likely), but isn't there a sensor on the transaxle which indicates that it's in reverse? Maybe something with the wiring to that?

Not trying to put you on a wild goose chase, but just trying to toubleshoot and learn along with you.

uncre8tv

You said you already hit one ground, probably a couple more with your other refresh stuff. I'd say go around and hit all dozen grounds. I did this on mine when I got it and cured all kinds of weird intermittent ignition symptoms. I believe the two at the back of the motor (which are a royal pain to get to) are the most influential on ignition problems.

M. Requin

I agree with this. Bad grounds cause circuits to connect to ground through sometimes obscure and malignant pathways. Clean them all thoroughly, and be methodical about measuring system voltages and perhaps that will help you uncover the problem. Good luck!

jwillman

Over the last 5 years I have hit the grounds multiple times but will look again. Engine ground replaced 3 years ago and inspected today. 3 engine bay ground points checked as well as the one above the CE panel. The steering column was done last fall when I had the dash and pod out.

According to the WSM my 79 only has 5 grounds.

I checked wiring at the alternator today as well. Drove the car today and had no issues.

Will continue to check stuff. Thanks for the feedback.

jwillman

Ignition switch died today. Car powers on but does not crank. Not sure it has anything to do with my other issue I have been chasing here.

New one on the way. Doesn't seem like it would be connected but I have seen strange things from the ignition switch before. Fingers crossed.

jwillman

So a week after replacing the ignition switch and driving everyday with absolutely no surging issues with any other systems it sure looks like it was an ignition switch issue!. I am still confused as to the connection based on the wiring diagram and thus still waiting for it to reappear but based on the last weeks driving looks like its fixed.

The Deputy

Hopefully that was the problem, and thank you for keeping us up to speed on what you are finding. It's nice when folks do a follow up on their repairs and solutions.

Brian.