'81 cuts out intermitently???

[John Ulrich]

My '81 cuts out when driving. It happens for a microsecond and sometimes lights the check engine light for a second. The car jolts when it happens (4spd).

Today it stopped running. after waiting a few minutes it restarted. Thinking it maybe was a fuel pump I figured I'd start by looking for a clogged fuel filter. After installing a new fuel filter I went for a drive and again within 5 miles it jolted a few times and then stalled instantly. This time it took 10 minutes to restart. When looking down the carb it was pumping gas.

Any Ideas where to start looking. Fuel pump? Electronic gremblin?

Thanks for your replies.
JU

 

[81 Corvette]

Check your distributor connections. I had something like that happen to me and after fiddeling with the wires, it went away.

 

[bill81vette]

you might want to check the plug wires like 81 said...my advise would be to start it up after dark and look to see if there are any sparks jumping around the wires.then you would know if its the wires or not!good luck!

 

[mvftw]

Usally it's the distrubtor module...

 

[81 Corvette]

Mine wasn't the plug wires. I think it was the main wire that provided power to the distributor on mine. I think had managed to loosen up a bit. I know its been over a year since it last cut out.

 

[John Ulrich]

Thanks for all the replies!

I picked up an Ignition Module today at Checker for their internet price of $29.99 vs their retail price of $49.99.

Took maybe 30 minutes to install. Most of the time was spent removing the ignition shield from the rear of the engine.

So far so good!!! Problem solved.

Later,
JU

 

[lone73]

Speaking of modules...

I put Accel DFI on my daily driven '73 about 2 1/2 years ago. Everything was Ok until one day my car quit running. I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure it out, then decided to get the module checked. Turned out to be bad. I put in a new one and kept on driving. About a month later I was on the side of the road again with a bad module. This went on for about 8 months and I went through probably 6 modules. I was about ready to either junk the DFI as having a problem or my new Accel Billitech distributor. I called Accel tech help repeatedly to get some input about their DFI system and distributor with no luck. I was just about at witts end when I was at work one day and it hit me. About the time I started having problems with my module I also installed the rubber weatherstrip around the back edge of the hood area - along the top of the firewall. I went out at break time with a razor blade in hand and cut about an 18" section out of the middle of that weatherstripping. That was about 18 months ago. Still going on the same module. I had apparently cut off the air flow that was needed to keep the module from frying by installing that weatherstripping at the top of the firewall. I suspect this is also the fix for a lot of guys that have problems with their Pertronix ignitors.
.
.
.