Pinto Car Club of America

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: chunk41 on August 07, 2008, 09:42:30 PM

Title: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: chunk41 on August 07, 2008, 09:42:30 PM
I have a 1980 pinto that is starting to drive me nuts..these are the things I have done so far....put a new coil on....replaced the rotor.......replaced the starter cylnoid....replaced the carberator and fuel pump.....droped the fuel tank cleaned it out and blew the lines out...put a clear filter inline before the pump.........the problem is once I start it it wil idle high but once you hit the gas it will shut down ans will not star for about 10 minutes.......anyone have any Ideas............. ???........thanks ken
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: chunk41 on August 10, 2008, 02:44:49 PM
the carb is new....could it be something electrical like in the distrubitor?..........thanks for your help ken......
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: 77turbopinto on August 10, 2008, 05:52:29 PM
What did it do before you did all those things?


Bill
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: Cookieboystoys on August 11, 2008, 07:06:16 AM
Quote from: chunk41 on August 10, 2008, 02:44:49 PM
the carb is new....

I have bought 3 rebuilt carbs for my different Pinto's in the last 2 years.... ALL!!!! of them needed to rebuilt again by a local guy here in town. 1 of them was having the same or similar issue you have described. Hard to say if you are seeing the same thing and if it's the carb but in my experience... rebuilt carbs are questionable.

I would guess most were rebuilt many years ago and have been sitting on shelves ever since...
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: chunk41 on August 11, 2008, 08:33:16 PM
the car was running great.......I just found a bare wire running into what I think might be the control module....it is on the drivers side fender behind the washer fluid bottle and it has a condensor connected with it....the wire runs from tha module to the starter cylnoid.it is yellow and a red and green wire (I think thats the color).tee's off of it....I was doing the old school check for spark by grounding a plug to the fender and it would spark maybe every 10 to 15 cranks..........what do you guys think/.......thanks for all the help..I would really hate to scrap this car.........ken
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: lencost on August 11, 2008, 08:39:28 PM
Quote from: chunk41 on August 11, 2008, 08:33:16 PM
the car was running great.......I just found a bare wire running into what I think might be the control module....it is on the drivers side fender behind the washer fluid bottle and it has a condensor connected with it....the wire runs from tha module to the starter cylnoid.it is yellow and a red and green wire (I think thats the color).tee's off of it....I was doing the old school check for spark by grounding a plug to the fender and it would spark maybe every 10 to 15 cranks..........what do you guys think/.......thanks for all the help..I would really hate to scrap this car.........ken

That might be the voltage regulator. Dose it have a stamped sheet metal cover?

Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: chunk41 on August 11, 2008, 08:54:53 PM
yes it does.......4 pin hookup on the bottom...............do you think could be the problem for the intermediate spark?........
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: lencost on August 11, 2008, 09:04:25 PM
Quote from: chunk41 on August 11, 2008, 08:54:53 PM
yes it does.......4 pin hookup on the bottom...............do you think could be the problem for the intermediate spark?........

Possibly. 

Electronic devices are sensitive to voltage fluctuations.
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: chunk41 on August 11, 2008, 09:07:50 PM
 ;D thank you.....the way it loos I will have to replace the wire also.............
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: lencost on August 11, 2008, 09:48:19 PM
Quote from: chunk41 on August 11, 2008, 09:07:50 PM
;D thank you.....the way it loos I will have to replace the wire also.............

I had to replace mine from the splice to the solenoid. Do not scrimp on the wire diameter. This wire runs from the battery side of the solenoid to the voltage regulator, and about in the middle of the wire is a splice. Off of the splice are tow more wires one goes to the ignition switch "it's yellow to" and a black one that goes to the alternator.
Title: Re: A 1980 that does not want to idle
Post by: chunk41 on August 12, 2008, 11:32:45 AM
thanks for all your help guys....ken