Hey guys 'n gals! ok so my “Roxann” has had very minor to just odd behavior over the last few months. First, back in April, I had trouble starting her twice, two days in a row. Waited about five minutes, and she fired right up. Acted like a poor cold start, but it was 70 degrees out. Anyway that only happened twice and was never again a problem.
Well, now about a week ago, I was going to a local parts store (only a 15 min drive) for my other hot rod. Two traffic lights away as I was approaching the stop light, she just died. Now, when I had started her before I left home, I got a check engine light, but it went out as soon as she had cranked over and resumed a normal idle speed. So I thought not much of it.
Now at the light, she fired right back up and I made it to the parts store. So I’m in there about fifteen minutes and start up, runs fine for about 10 seconds and then sputters out. Try again and 5 seconds then out. Again and nothing, just a cranking motor. So now I’m pissed as hell and wait a few minutes and still nothing. So I try to get a diagnostic readout, but there is a connection error, so I get no codes for help.
So I get a ride home from my gal. At this time, it’s about 7pm. When I come back to investigate with a pal at around 2am, she fires right up as normal. Only strange thing is that there was a definite smell of gas. But all the same ran fine, good throttle response so I drove it home.
Got me home, no problem at all, but I let it idle for about five minutes, and it started to sputter again, so I gave it some throttle up to 3000 rpm and let off. But the engine continued to rev 3000. Then a few moments later, dies. That’s how I left her.
Days later, she starts just fine and I let her run for an hour! Putting the engine on load, reving up to 5000, and holding. All these things I tried to get a sense for an abnormality, but nothing. She ran like a top. I drive about forty miles a day to work and home so I dare not take this one out again till I defeat this phantom gripe. Thanx y’all!