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1973 Vega stalls on highway
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meenak27
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Aug 27, 2013, 5:17 AM
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1973 Vega stalls on highway
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I have a 1973 Vega which recently has a problem stalling when driving above 40 but restarts right away, occasionally stall at low speed such as when accelerating quickly. I replaced carb, fuel pump and filter and installed new coil and electronic ignition any help would be appreciated.
Thank You, Bob
It is the original 4 cylinder with the 2 bbl carb and auto transmission
(This post was edited by meenak27 on Aug 27, 2013, 5:24 AM)
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Hammer Time
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Aug 27, 2013, 5:34 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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If memory serves me right, and it often doesn't, that had an oil pressure switch wired to shut the engine down on low oil pressure.
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meenak27
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Aug 27, 2013, 5:36 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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I thought of that and jumped out the switch and still had the problem. Thanks for the help though.
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Hammer Time
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Aug 27, 2013, 5:43 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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You're going to have to find out what is dropping out, fuel or spark.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 27, 2013, 5:57 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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Yes - oil pressure switch is imperative to power fuel pump. Not a clue if plain jumping it will totally work? Not sure as most of these didn't last off warranty giving new car owners too much trouble (no offense meant) but knew of many.
You can find it as now these are cars of interest for some as so few really exist,
T
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Hammer Time
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Aug 27, 2013, 6:25 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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It's carbureted. It doesn't have an electric fuel pump. It would have to be cutting out spark.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 27, 2013, 7:28 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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Might have been a model year earlier but it did have an electric fuel pump either in tank or in line! I think the idea was no oil pressure, no more fuel delivered as in an accident it wouldn't empty a tank over a hot engine?
The one I dealt with wasn't that old at the time and the problem was the oil pressure switch. Car was orange - I actually recall that??????
T
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Hammer Time
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Aug 27, 2013, 7:43 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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I just did some digging through Vintage wiring diagrams and I see nothing besides the light attached to the oil pressure switch and no electric pump.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 27, 2013, 8:27 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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Hammer - I seriously doubt there's consistent info on these. Found what must be an in line electric fuel pump for a 73 - two vins possible "A" or "B" showed this pump.....
Also showed a three wire oil pressure switch which I somewhat recall in person.....
This car was doomed with an all aluminum engine block "silicone" impregnated wall that were said to make up for not being steel/iron but ALL had monster oil blow by @ 40,000 miles to the point it dripped out the tailpipes!
I think GM made good for another block of the same thing that failed again the same way for the few I knew.
I JUST CAN'T BE CERTAIN ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND ENGINE ABOUT MUCH OF ANYTHING. I did see the three prong switch and noted lack of fuel was the problem on a road call also noted NO fuel pump (mechanical) on engine.
Faded memory but the pump made a thumping pump sound not the buzz we are used to. I was hands on with that, not altered TMK bought new by the family and son had the car.
Why do I recall crap from 40 years ago and can't find my keys?
FYI - there were no other so called American cars with electric fuel pumps that I knew of??
Yes, it was on either a 1 or 2 barrel carb also....
Tom
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Hammer Time
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Aug 27, 2013, 9:05 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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I don't have time to argue today.
Here is the official wiring diagram
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 27, 2013, 9:46 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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It's not an argument - I SAW it! It is listed. The one thing about info/data to software is once put in wrong it's stuck that way many times. At this point the switch itself if all this at the age and reputation is close might just have low oil pressure or we are barking up the whole wrong tree.
I know I fixed it on location and a new switch was an in stock item. Didn't investigate more as it was up and running but perhaps that in turn might pass thru some other item that is the real culprit now for this exact one.........
T
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meenak27
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Aug 27, 2013, 5:50 PM
Post #12 of 15
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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The car does have an electric fuel pump in the fuel tank. The oil pressure switch is tied in with the fuel pump in case engine stops it doesnt keep pumping fuel. Thank you all for your advice, I do need to do more testing so as not have to continue buying parts until they are all new. The car does use oil but I think its the valve stem seals since cylinder compression goo in all 4 cylinders.
Thanks Again, Bob
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Hammer Time
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Aug 27, 2013, 6:40 PM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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Well, i posted the factory wiring diagram directly from Mitchell and the oil pressure switch is not wired to any fuel pump in that diagram.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 28, 2013, 12:54 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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Bob - I'm worried about correct info on this and some other cars. Dare say I would use an incandescent test light and check for power right at the fuel pump and don't forget grounds must be good too. A helper would be handy for key on, key off, crank etc., while you check - carefully please if under car hoist drive wheels at least.
Mark wires yourself as to what they are for. Doesn't this have just an oil warning light on dash? Maybe either were available? It should light with just key on. If not use that test light as a source to give it ground at the plug on switch. Bulb out just might (car was a different bird) could be a real problem. If a gauge forget that.
Follow from pump chasing wires if power has dropped out to where it dropped out, a connection along the way, bad wire or broken. Oil pressure switch may not be bad at all.
Oil burning: For vehicles in general vintage many did consume oil so check it a lot. If you suspect valve stem seals are the current reason you should be noticing a puff of blue after a stretch of slowing down using engine as a partial brake then when switching to accelerate it would puff.
There are "umbrella" seals that may do better than what it came with and you just leave those there. If it smokes out tail-pipe enough to see on acceleration that's about always plain wear and your compression you said is good it shouldn't be doing that.
Use the best oil you can get even it consumes it and change it too. I like synthetics for about everything. Avoid stuff in a can - let the right oil and viscosity do the work on its own. I think (not sure) it would have called for 10w-40 oil at the time and should behave with that now.
Good luck - you'll find the fuel issue,
T
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Hammer Time
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Aug 28, 2013, 2:44 AM
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Re: 1973 Vega stalls on highway
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Vegas all burned oil. That's why they stopped making them. The blocks were junk.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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