My cabby is acting strange. Should I be concerned?

[Jay401]

Okay so i have a 87 cabriolet, and I'm not sure if this behavior should concern me.

So when I get home or to where ever I'm going I always make sure it's in nutueral and my parking break is on and I turn off the car. Now I'd say every one out of ten times I turn it off and it sputters and almost like stalls. As if I popped the clutch or something. But it does turn off. Now whenever this happenes the next time I start the car it takes a little longer than usual to start up.

Should I be worried? Is my cabby warning me of impending doom?!?! Or is it just because it's an old car and i drive it a lot?

Thanks for any feedback.

[hyperlightboards48]

So after you shut the key off it starts to sputter and shut off?

[Jay401]

So after you shut the key off it starts to sputter and shut off?

Yup. Like instead of turn right off it's like it fights it.

[briano1234]

Sound suspiciously like a injector that is dribbling.

Star with the basics, ie: Timing, look for vacuum leaks...
Then progress to leaky injectors....

[hyperlightboards48]

Sounds like the car is dieseling... I had this problem with a 4 wheeler i know its completely different but on my quad it was due to carbon build up. I would try cleaning the fuel distributer and seafoam the intake.

I may be completly off on this so someone correct me if im

When was the last tune up? plugs, wires, idle screw oring, injector seals and so on?

[Beetle.freak]

Timings advanced, whens the last time she had a new timing belt ?

[Jay401]

Timings advanced, whens the last time she had a new timing belt ?

I think it was at 60,000 miles in the 90s lol. She's at 128 now.

[Beetle.freak]

I always do mine around 50-60k...I'd check the timing with a timing light and see if its off.

[Jay401]

I always do mine around 50-60k...I'd check the timing with a timing light and see if its off.

Thanks for the advice. I will check the timing, makes sense that it would be the timing.

[Jay401]

Okay thought I would do a little update.

That weird problem still seldom happens but now there's more...

So my coolant level light started flashing under heavy acceleration so I decided to flush my coolant and replaced the thermostat, and hoses. I also did a oil and air filter change. After that the problem still exists, now most recently I've started to hear that infamous fuel pump whine under really heavy acceleration. So before I replaced the fuel pumps I replaced the fuel filter today. And no surprise the problem still exists. I tested the fuel pump relay and fuses both check out okay.

Now here's the curve ball. When I'm accelerating my coolant level light flashes, my oil pressure goes crazy as well as my oil temp gauge, but i do not loose any performance. Is this normal when a fuel pump starts to die or might there be a underling problem I've over looked.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Beetle.freak]

Is the ground strap connected from the coil mounting bracket to the back of the valve cover stud ? Check/replace the body to engne ground.

[briano1234]

Under acceleration your coolant will recede a bit. If you are not running your coolant at the "max" mark then it is possible that you have a air bubble under your sensor.

I would loosen your sensor an allow the coolant to fill the sensor tube, and possibly add coolant to your tank if it is under the max mark.

I would also clean the Tips of your sensor with sandy paper to clean all the calcification off of the tips. They increase the resistance of the probes.

I would replace the Battery to Frame, and the Frame to the engine/tranny grounds. You can buy new cables at a Autoparts store of your choosing. You will be buying a new battery to frame cable, and a new frame to frame cable (2 pieces). You can take a file and file the two ends that meet at the frame to get a flat fit. Clean the Frame stud after attaching the cables, I would spray them with a battery protectorant to eliminate the corrosion and or rust.

[Jay401]

Under acceleration your coolant will recede a bit. If you are not running your coolant at the "max" mark then it is possible that you have a air bubble under your sensor.

I would loosen your sensor an allow the coolant to fill the sensor tube, and possibly add coolant to your tank if it is under the max mark.

I would also clean the Tips of your sensor with sandy paper to clean all the calcification off of the tips. They increase the resistance of the probes.

I would replace the Battery to Frame, and the Frame to the engine/tranny grounds. You can buy new cables at a Autoparts store of your choosing. You will be buying a new battery to frame cable, and a new frame to frame cable (2 pieces). You can take a file and file the two ends that meet at the frame to get a flat fit. Clean the Frame stud after attaching the cables, I would spray them with a battery protectorant to eliminate the corrosion and or rust.

Thanks for the help. Do you know of any diagrams that I could use to find all the grounds?

[Jay401]

Is the ground strap connected from the coil mounting bracket to the back of the valve cover stud ? Check/replace the body to engne ground.

Yes I is connected but pretty corroded.

[kamzcab86]

If you are not running your coolant at the "max" mark then it is possible that you have a air bubble under your sensor.

I would loosen your sensor an allow the coolant to fill the sensor tube, and possibly add coolant to your tank if it is under the max mark.

I would also clean the Tips of your sensor with sandy paper to clean all the calcification off of the tips. They increase the resistance of the probes.

An '87 does not have a level sensor, only the temp sensor.

I do concur: Replace the main ground cables, and clean the connections of the rest (go to your local hardware store and get a wire brush; the brushes are easier to use than sandpaper/files, IMO). Also clean the sensor connections (and, really, any other electrical connections that are dirty/corroded).

http://www.cabby-info.com/electrical.htm#Ground

[Jay401]

Thanks Kam, will due.

[Jay401]

So I guess I should do an update. Cleaned all the grounds and also found a vacuum line unplugged to what ever that thing near the distributor is. After that car ran like it was brand new.

But a few days after that some one hit me and it's now totaled. Kinda ironic. If any one needs parts let me know. I'll probably be parting out soon.

[CajunSpike]

ouch.....

[benrk]

ouch, looks like you had a nice car there, my condolescence!

[s2kvondeutschland]

Sorry about your car man, looked nice.

But how much for the Recaros?

[Jay401]

Sorry about your car man, looked nice.

But how much for the Recaros?

Trying to get a mk2 do might use them if not $300 for front and rears.

[EuroTrash_miT]

RIP Cabby

Glad you're ok though, cars can be replaced.

[kamzcab86]

But a few days after that some one hit me and it's now totaled