AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Gremlins => Topic started by: PAcowboy on September 22, 2011, 06:40:25 PM

Title: HELP!
Post by: PAcowboy on September 22, 2011, 06:40:25 PM
My '88 Eagle has been running for days, no problems. I shut her down while at a car cruise. When I went to start her, the engine was shuddering and shaking. I drove her home and did a full tune-up. Started on the first click. But, when i dropped her in gear, the engine shuddered, violently, shaking and rocking. I checked all the vac lines, carb, all fluid levels fine, EGR (new) when I shut her off, it sounds as if I have a large vac leak. I can't figure it out. Can't find it. Otherwise, it idles great until I drop her in gear and the same thing, engine shuddering, rocking violently.  When I give it gas, it sort of smooths out....HELP!

Steve
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: JayRamb on September 22, 2011, 07:38:59 PM
I had that happen and it was a vacuum line off the rear intake manifold. Overall, it sounds like vacuum. Check your lines. Replace, if needed, each one; one at a time!!! Don't do a whole mess of them at once.
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: PAcowboy on September 22, 2011, 08:56:21 PM
JayRamb:

It did sound like a big leak on the rear of the engine when I shut it off.  But, I couldn't find it. However, I just ran it down to the local garage, no power at all.

Every time I bring it down there, I have to spend $100 +. That is the crime for not having a garage. I'd give up my wife for a garage. At least I wouldn't have to hear, "Sell it, sell it, sell it." Over 'n over.

Steve
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: PAcowboy on September 22, 2011, 09:02:13 PM
Does anyone know if wthere is a map sensor in the Eagle? And, what does it do?

Steve
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: ammachine390 on September 22, 2011, 10:03:08 PM
No MAP sensor on Eagles. MAP sensors are used on fuel injected engines to determine the amount of fuel to inject based on how much manifold vacuum the engine is making. Since Eagles are carbureted, the fuel system is mechanical.

However, the 82+ models do have a vacuum switch, which is used to tell the ECM how much load is on on the engine, and determine whether or not the engine is idling, accelerating, or cruising. That way the ECM can fine tune the fuel mixture. But, overall fuel mixture is set by the mechanical settings of the carb.
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: GRONK on September 22, 2011, 10:13:09 PM
Please post pictures and specs of wife..... ;D

Check the rear mounts for the intake manifold.,  VERY common to leak there.  Check the carb mounta and PCV routing.

Do you have a plug wire not making contact?
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: JayRamb on September 23, 2011, 12:56:45 AM
JayRamb:

It did sound like a big leak on the rear of the engine when I shut it off.  But, I couldn't find it. However, I just ran it down to the local garage, no power at all.

Every time I bring it down there, I have to spend $100 +. That is the crime for not having a garage. I'd give up my wife for a garage. At least I wouldn't have to hear, "Sell it, sell it, sell it." Over 'n over.

Steve

I think it would be near the firewall behind the stepper motor from the carb.
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: GRONK on September 23, 2011, 11:12:09 AM
Double check your firing order/plug wire routing too.  I'm assuming you did wires/plugs with your full tune up.  Did you use basic plugs or something fancy?
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: craigp29690 on September 23, 2011, 12:45:47 PM
If there was a big enough vacuum leak to cause it idle roughly in gear, it would do it in neutral as well.  How could the leak be selective?   
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: PAcowboy on September 23, 2011, 11:07:38 PM
Guys:

The engine does have a low sound at idle. Checked wires and seated-OK, new plugs-OK, cap & rotor-new-OK, vac lines, stepper, carb-OK, manifold-tight-OK, Engines rocks like there's a bad motor mount but, they are OK, too. My brother said a collapsed muffler but, that's OK, too.

Perplexed.

What does a bad torque converter do or sound like? I haven't had a problem with the tranny, yet.

Steve
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: JayRamb on September 25, 2011, 03:44:55 PM
Are your belts tight? How is your battery connection? Tight and clean terminals?
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: Jurjen on September 25, 2011, 04:01:27 PM
Maybe the membrane in the brake booster is leaking (= internal leak)?
To test it you can cap the vacuum line to the brake booster.
Careful with the test drive, almost no brakes now.
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: PAcowboy on September 26, 2011, 06:25:39 PM
PeterM:

Pushrod doesn't sound right. there is nothing hitting the underside of the valve cover. Car was running good. I shut it off and about a half hour later I started it, put it in gear and...what da...started missing. Came home, did full tune-up. Put it in gear and it progressively got worse. Timing is right on, everything to my sight & knowledge looks right. Drop it into gear and t5he engine wants to roll over, but the mounts are all good.

Steve
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: EAGLER on September 26, 2011, 07:56:43 PM
first step check on the engine compression that would give you a clear idea on what`s going on
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: PAcowboy on September 30, 2011, 04:54:55 PM
I want to Thank everyone for all the help.

Today, I just found out that I need a auto tranny mount.  I checked it, it looked good. But, later at the garrage, they found out it was my problem. Does anyone have one readily available?

Blaser in Ill. has one for an obsorbitant amount of money. Does anyone know where there may be one hiding?

So, we can end this thread.

Steve
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: Jurjen on October 01, 2011, 06:49:36 AM
The auto mount is hard to get and expensive.
The manual mounts are readily available and cheap.
You will only have to dremel the welds of the four studs out and then knock the studs out with a big hammer and you will have an auto mount.
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: PAcowboy on October 01, 2011, 04:55:31 PM
JurJen:

Thanks. I ordered the one from Advance, it will be here weds.

Thanks, again.

Steve
Title: Re: HELP!
Post by: pitstah on October 13, 2011, 04:50:11 PM
I don't want to mis judge the garage experts (the mount may be bad as well) however, it could be bad fuel, water in the line or a clogged fuel filter. an engine shaking under the conditions you describe is usually starving for either air or fuel.