Fuel problem- car stranded! help

[jimrockford]

Dudes: My Cutlass left me stranded for the first time last night. :( Who can help with this bizarre problem? Remember, I have a 231 cu. in. Buick V-6 w/ 3-speed manual transmission.

Occasionally, when I've been driving around for a while in the City (slower speeds, 1-2 gears only), and I stop the car, and then try to start it again within a few a minutes, I turn the key and nothing happens. (I assume this means it's flooded, right?) I found this can be resolved by waiting 3-4 minutes, disconnecting the battery, and reconnecting it.

Other times when I'm driving around the City, the clutch seems to get sticky and engages rather abruptly. Sometime sitting to cool off gets rid of the problem.

Today, after driving around the City just for a bit, I got in the car, started it, and put it in reverse. The clutch was immediately sticky and lurched the car. No big deal, I began to bakc out slowly but giving it plenty of gas. Then, it sounded like maybe it needed more gas, so I gently pressed the accelerator more. Then a little more. Then the engine cut out. I tried restarting, and it would crank but not start.

I let it sit for 30 minutes, and tried again. Still cranking, no start.

Strong gas smell when I opened the hood. I never get that strong smell when it fails to crank as above, so I let it sit again for 15 minutes, with the battery disconnected. Gas smell went away. Connected the battery, still cranking, no start.

Strong gas smell again. Let it sit again for 15 minutes, with the battery disconnected. Smell went away. Connected the battery, and it wouldn't even crank. Disconnected the battery for a minute, reconnected, and still cranking, no start.

Strong gas smell. Let it sit again for 20 minutes, with the battery disconnected. Gas smell gone. Put in 1/2 gal of gas (just to be safe). Connected the battery, and it wouldn't even crank. Disconnected the battery for a minute, reconnected, and still cranking, no start.

So at this point, here's my guesses to the problem.

1) There is some kind of interlock with the clutch telling the engine "don't start- we have a transmission problem."

2) Something is wrong with the choke?

3) Bad fuel pump?

4) Bad fuel filter?

This is parked in a remote area, so I need to move it or I risk losing the car. Ideas? Help!

[442MUCH]

Dudes: My Cutlass left me stranded for the first time last night. :( Who can help with this bizarre problem? Remember, I have a 231 cu. in. Buick V-6 w/ 3-speed manual transmission.

Occasionally, when I've been driving around for a while in the City (slower speeds, 1-2 gears only), and I stop the car, and then try to start it again within a few a minutes, I turn the key and nothing happens. (I assume this means it's flooded, right?) I found this can be resolved by waiting 3-4 minutes, disconnecting the battery, and reconnecting it.

Other times when I'm driving around the City, the clutch seems to get sticky and engages rather abruptly. Sometime sitting to cool off gets rid of the problem.

Today, after driving around the City just for a bit, I got in the car, started it, and put it in reverse. The clutch was immediately sticky and lurched the car. No big deal, I began to bakc out slowly but giving it plenty of gas. Then, it sounded like maybe it needed more gas, so I gently pressed the accelerator more. Then a little more. Then the engine cut out. I tried restarting, and it would crank but not start.

I let it sit for 30 minutes, and tried again. Still cranking, no start.

Strong gas smell when I opened the hood. I never get that strong smell when it fails to crank as above, so I let it sit again for 15 minutes, with the battery disconnected. Gas smell went away. Connected the battery, still cranking, no start.

Strong gas smell again. Let it sit again for 15 minutes, with the battery disconnected. Smell went away. Connected the battery, and it wouldn't even crank. Disconnected the battery for a minute, reconnected, and still cranking, no start.

Strong gas smell. Let it sit again for 20 minutes, with the battery disconnected. Gas smell gone. Put in 1/2 gal of gas (just to be safe). Connected the battery, and it wouldn't even crank. Disconnected the battery for a minute, reconnected, and still cranking, no start.

So at this point, here's my guesses to the problem.

1) There is some kind of interlock with the clutch telling the engine "don't start- we have a transmission problem."

2) Something is wrong with the choke?

3) Bad fuel pump?

4) Bad fuel filter?

This is parked in a remote area, so I need to move it or I risk losing the car. Ideas? Help!

First, tow the car home or to a garage. It sound to me like fuel pump AND either battery or tranny issues. Gas smell most likely fuel pump - not cranking is battery or as you say an interlock problem. I'd start there.

[73CS]

Get it home like ken said. If you smell gas and it is not leaking on the ground you probably are getting fuel to the carb. It sounds like you are not getting spark. I would check for that next. GM ignition modules are great for just quitting. Also when you connected the battery and it wouldn’t crank, did you have power to the rest of the car? You may have wiring issues off the battery terminals. So I would check wires and check for spark. Good luck!

Blane

[jimrockford]

Thanks dudes, I'll try it.
Would this ignition module work?

http://www.autozone.com/R,1027684/vehicleId,1333601/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,2563/partType,00029/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

[73CS]

Take your module out and have AZ test it. You can also confirm a correct replacement this way. Ensure they run the test at least 5 times if it passes. They often will pass at first then when they heat up they will fail. If it passes then try running a jumper wire straight from the battery to the distributor power wire terminal on the distributer, and then try starting it. You could have a start circuit wiring problem, this would eliminate that and let you get it home. Good luck.
Blane

[jimrockford]

Well, looks like my mechanical skills are better than I thought, because I got in the car today and it started right up! I didn't have to do anything! Very weird. I'm going to check all the stuff you guys recommended anyway.

[73CS]

Good deal Jim, good luck with your repairs.