Car died. Spark. Where's the fuel?

[Vroomer]

I was driving along. Went to stop at a stop sign. Car dropped to 0 RPM and died. Cranking was like turning on a gas stove without the gasoline. I heard the starter going, but nothing.

Early diagnosis is clogged idle valve. Anyone else?

I did get her home, as I was only a block form my house when she died. =]

~Vroomer

[Mike Self]

1. disconnect the fuel output line from the pump and use a catch can with the starter operating to see if the pump is pumping fuel. If it is, go upstream; if not, disconnect the input line and blow thru it. Have someone listen at the open gas cap for bubbles. If you can't blow thru the line, it's clogged.

2. Check the short rubber fuel line between the firewall and the fuel pump; make sure it isn't cracked or leaking. A mechanical pump can't pump sucking on a porous fuel line.

3. Check the carb by working the accelerator linkage to see if the accelerator pump squirts. If that works, I would suspect a problem with the float, needle valve and/or jets.

Bet it's a cracked fuel line or a clogged jet...

cheers

mike

[Chris_B]

Following up on Mike's comments, look down the throat of your carb, and if you see fuel squirting in when you work the throttle (motor not running), you know you are getting fuel to the carb. If not, then the carb is dry. Work back from the carb, or up from the tank. I tend to agree with Mike that working from the back is best.

A clogged idle jet will indeed keep the motor from idling properly, but you may be able to start the motor by holding the throttle open half way when you crank the starter, getting fuel from the main jets.

[polloelastico]

Same thing happened to me, except I was lucky(?) and it occured to me in my driveway. It Ended up being the mechanical fuel pump.