LUVTruck.com

So my engine runs fine, when its running, obviously, cleaning the carb will probly get it running alot better, but thats besides the point. The car will start up just fine when i tap the gas and go into gear and run just fine in that gear, once i start to slow down though and and switch gears the car will die unless i really lay on the gas. I figured maybe its the alternator so i bought one just to be sure becuase the one on it looks pretty old anyway. Ive got new spark plugs, wires, and everything else, but i dont really want to put all that on until i get the gasket kit for it and clean it up a bit, i was hoping the new alternator would just be a good solution. What do you guys think...

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"If it wont fit, force it, if it breaks, then it needed to be replaced anyway..."

first of all most parts stores will check the alternator for you so you dont have to waste your money if its not it, sounds more to me like you have a fuel problem, try replacing the filter, alot of people forget about it{including myself}, and its cheaper to start there

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zyanug
75 luv stepside... Work in progress
76 fleetside 350hp 1968 327cu
"No replacement for displacement!"
___/__l____
[_@l__l__@_]***

The filter is actually brand new, and everything in the carb seems to be working just fine. When i go to put it into another gear after slowing down at say a stoplight or something the "C" light comes on and then the "O" light and then it dies. Other than that after i get the car started it idles just fine, and after i get it into gear and tap the gas a bit it keeps it from dying and it idles just fine again, but it seems to me like a battery or electrical problem, i dont know...

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"If it wont fit, force it, if it breaks, then it needed to be replaced anyway..."

Hard to diagnose this. Have you checked the voltage regulator?
Also, check the idle stop on the carb. It should be set to have the engine idle around 900 rpm or so. Check your manual for the exact settings on your specific year. If the stop isn't set correctly, it can be letting the rpm's drop so low that the engine just can't keep running. When you blip the gas it brings the rpm's back up and the accelerator cable is holding the rpm's up, not the mechanical stop. Hope this makes sense.

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I've never been wrong! Once I thought I was, but I was mistaken.
Rick
Loranger, La
1980 Stepside LUV (Again)

Start it up and keep it running.

disconnect the battery.

if it dies... the charging system is at fault

if it dosent, then the battery has a damaged cell..... replace battery.

A.j.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgDNjeTa0g

well i put the new alternator in it this afternoon and it started right up, without me having to tap on the gas to get it going. So i started driving it around and it was running fine. Then, about 15 minutes of driving later the truck just died. No signs of it dying or anything, the truck just lost power. I had to tow it home. Then when i got home it started right up and had no problem. Could anyone think of what just loosing all power before the engine even died could be a problem with...

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"If it wont fit, force it, if it breaks, then it needed to be replaced anyway..."

When it died this last time did you check to see if you had a spark to the plug wires? I have seen a coil do this more than once. It will run fine until it gets hot and then kills the engine. When it cools back down it will start and run again until it heats up again starting the process over again.

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In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

I had an alternator on my Suburban do that. Short trips were fine, but 230 miles to the river and it had run down the battery and just barely made it there.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

An old Honda Accord did the same to me. The coil was overheating and shorting out on the inside. Replaced it and forgot about the problem.

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I've never been wrong! Once I thought I was, but I was mistaken.
Rick
Loranger, La
1980 Stepside LUV (Again)

well, i think i might just replace the wires and sparkplugs, if that doesent work then ill probly replace the coils too...

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"If it wont fit, force it, if it breaks, then it needed to be replaced anyway..."

Not likely the problem. Rare will all four wires and all four spark plugs go bad at once in the situation you are describing. As long as the wires have continuity and the spark plugs will produce a spark under pressure they are functioning as designed. However I have seen more bizzare things so it just might do it. Keep us posted.

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In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Check the relay and the wire going to your fuel pump also you may want to check your voltage regulator but the relay could be the problem and you can bypass it to be sure.

All of this is if the motor will crank over but wont run when it dies.

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1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

well seeing is how i actually think the sparkplugs and wires are the originals, it could be the problem, but i do think the engine is overheating. After i let it set for awhile it started right back up and ran fine, but i didnt want to tempt fate and run it for very long. When i get home, ill try replacing the spark plugs and wires and see if that helps any. If not, ill find a new coil somewhere.

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"If it wont fit, force it, if it breaks, then it needed to be replaced anyway..."

Any progress yet??

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Nope, not yet, havent had time. Ive been out of town all weekend. I guess i could be working on it right now instead of surfin the web, but its too hot out, its like 78'. Maybe later tonite or, sometime before the weekend ill actually get to really working on it. Off to see if i can get a parts truck for it now though.

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"If it wont fit, force it, if it breaks, then it needed to be replaced anyway..."

Cool, I just like to follow these post to see what actually ends up as the problem. (Learn something for myself as well) I'm also trying to buy a parts truck...I guess it has alot of rust but only has 86,000 miles and runs like a dream. The farmer that has it broke the frame when he was unloading a 1,500 lb round hay bale. I just have to borrow a friends car hauler and drive the 180 miles to get it. Good luck.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Well, turns out the guy sold the truck to someone else, but its all good. And as far as fixing the truck. I replaced the coil, plug wires and spark plugs. This all seemed to do the trick, i started the car, let it run for awhile and it idled fine. I took her for a little spin but not to far, and it ran better than ever, didnt stall out at all and didnt shut itself off. But i only drove it down the drive way and back (couple hundred yards), so tomorrow ill take it down my road and back and see what happens...

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"If it wont fit, force it, if it breaks, then it needed to be replaced anyway..."

COOL!!! Hopefully that did the trick. It's always good to get one straightened out. Let us know when you know for sure. If I was a betting man I would lay money down it was the coil. Awesome job.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Got, it running fine, but now it wont start at all, but i know its the battery. So im getting a new battery and over my days off im going to rebuild the carb and see what that does for it, should get it running even better... but i do believe the coil was what was making it overheat...

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"If it wont fit, force it, if it breaks, then it needed to be replaced anyway..."

Are you up and running?

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk