Ok help, I broke the 81

[rkortge]

So I did some "preventative maint" on the car today. Changed fuel filter, just because, it was running great till I touched the Danm thing. Cleaned up the air intake shrouding by removing. Thats it. My son comes home from Baseball practice and we go for a spin. runs great for 5 miles then quits. I get it started by pressing accelerator to floor. We barely get home but we do. Put it back in the Farm shop, quits a few times trying to do that but we get it in. What did I do wrong? I can fix a John Deere combine buy cant change a fuel filter on a chevy and get home with it. I will get another filter in the morning. I warmed it up then drove for 10 min with no trouble. Whats up? I cant imagine the air intake ducking doing this. Could be a fuel pump although very strange timing. I made sure to get the filter in the correct direction. Let me have it guys...... School me!
Rich

 

[Antz81]

I don't think it's anything you've done. So at this stage wouldn't worry about getting a new filter. Removing the air intake ducting won't have caused it either.
how does it run once started?
when did you last replace spark plugs and leads?
any ecm codes?
when did you last check the tuning of the carb?

 

[Midnight 99]

It is possible that there was a chunk of rust that broke loose in the fuel line, clogging the carb and starving it.

 

[rkortge]

All good thoughts. the car only has 27,000 mikes. I have had it a week. For all I know plugs and leads are factory. I will change them soon but this feels like a fuel problem. How do you check the codes? Yes a chunk may have gotten in the carb but what do I do to fix it? At high RPM the car ran. At low it died.
Rich

 

[rkortge]

To get it to start I held the accelerator all the way to the floor and cranked till it fired. Then I could barely keep it running. Died at idle. Ran at 50mph.

 

[Antz81]

To get it to start I held the accelerator all the way to the floor and cranked till it fired. Then I could barely keep it running. Died at idle. Ran at 50mph.

Sounds more like it's flooding than being starved of fuel to me.
was there lots of black smoke when it finally started?

 

[rkortge]

Yes lots of black smoke. Is there a possibility that replacing the fuel filter is letting more gas into the carb? I just replaced plugs and wires and took it out again. Runs great till it gets warm then there is gas running all over the place and it floods out. I guess I need someone to work on the carb as I know nothing about these. Do I have a chance to find a local guy who will know how this system works? It ran fine until I changed the fuel filter. You are correct its flooding not being starved for fuel.

 

[rkortge]

I wonder If I have a needle or seat or float stuck? That would cause it to flow too much I would think.

 

[Antz81]

Could be a stuck float or something like that.
I would expect the new filter to allow more fuel, but that's not the problem.
Finding someone decent to do work on the E4ME carbs can sometimes be a little difficult (but not impossible) may be easier to remove it and send it somewhere. Not sure who to trust where you are. Someone else here will know.
Have a look in the L81 forum at 22229stingray81's last thread. (About testing the tps) the guys in there would know. (Gerrylp would know the best)
a lot of us (including Gerry) have learnt about these carbs through our own experience fixing them, with a little basic knowledge it's not as hard as it looks.

 

[rkortge]

Thank you for all your help

 

[rkortge]

Fixed

Got her going this morning. Talked to a mechanic who has lots of experience with these Carbs. He said to block off the fuel supply and let it die. I did it and it flipping worked. He said that would open everything up and may remove a blockage. Running like a top for now. Thanks a ton for all the help.
Rich