AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Mighty 258 => General Service and Diagnosis => Topic started by: eagletuner on May 12, 2011, 01:55:03 PM

Title: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 12, 2011, 01:55:03 PM
my eagle limited has been spittering sputtering and dieing on me at around 35k...I put it back to base timing and now it's doing it at 60 k any ideas?
I've changed the plugs and wires, rebuilt the carb checked for vacuum leaks... she's still doing it. the little saucers attatched by vacuum to the distributer ( vacuum switch assembly i believe) are broken but i think it's the cruise control and 4wd that they control...I really need help to get her on the road.

i let the boyfriemd work on her and she's never been the same :( girl in need of help here lol
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagle503 on May 12, 2011, 01:59:51 PM
just passing along what somebody told me...
Tighten the manifold bolts.As well as the bolts holding the carb down.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 12, 2011, 02:26:22 PM
i had to tighten down carb bolts when i put it back on manifold bolts are also torqued on :( thanks though
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: IowaEagle on May 12, 2011, 02:51:59 PM
Does this only happen when you are at a stop sign or when the car is idling?  If so, sounds like clogged idle tubes in the carb.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 12, 2011, 03:14:39 PM
nope idles amazing it only happens around 60 k and i can put my foot to the floor it will just stall
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: IowaEagle on May 12, 2011, 03:19:00 PM
60 K -- do you mean 60 KPH, for us metrically challenged folks?    If so, that sound like either a carb issue (GRONK, can chime in here) or you have some vacuum circuits not working as they should.  My SX/4 did that when I removed some emissions equipment for testing and missed closing a couple of remaining circuits.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: El Matador on May 12, 2011, 04:12:02 PM
Is this an automatic transmission?  You may want to check your transmission fluid level.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 12, 2011, 04:42:26 PM
tranny is good oil is good air filter is good the whole 9 yards... I thought it was a carb issue so i rebuilt it twice in teh last year and a bit...i'm stumped. really want to fix her up 
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: GRONK on May 12, 2011, 05:03:07 PM
Could be vacuum, timing, power valve.....  Need more info.  Has this been Nuttered?  Does it die at hard stops or turns?  Could be a clogged accel pump passage or clogged needles.  It's hard not to keep saying it, but I can set you up w/ a Motorcraft that will definitely solve most electrical, emissions, vacuum, carb issues. 

If it's idling good and you haven't compensated timing or mixture screws to correct a vacuum leak, I'd look into timing, vacuum lines or carb problems.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 12, 2011, 06:10:23 PM
NUTTERED? LOL  not that i know of. doesn't die at hard stops no but it used to die in reverse if you turned the wheel all the way left or right the vacuum isn't leaking or clogged anywhere that i can find. i
'm wondering if maybe it has something to do with the choke maybe staying stuck open or closed. i also have to pump the accel pedal to fire her up. and it's intermittent it will run great for a few kilometers then spit and sputter and stall but it starts up right after
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: IowaEagle on May 12, 2011, 06:12:09 PM
Some of the vacuum circuits are only "active" under certain load conditions.  What you don't find at idle may be only taking place under other driving conditions.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: GRONK on May 13, 2011, 07:54:17 AM
It could definitely be the choke.  Use a ziptie and wire it open.  See what that does.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: Whuntmore on May 13, 2011, 10:24:18 AM
Sorry, but I just don't get most of this 'netlingo' or mechanic lingo.

what is Nuttered?
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: GRONK on May 13, 2011, 10:37:34 AM
ECM Test Bypass also known as the Ignito bypass.  It's where you bypass the computer, O2 sensor, all the electrical "stuff" and vacuum "stuff"

Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: LaGuardia on May 13, 2011, 10:56:14 AM
Is it some sort of a pun with "Neutered" ?

(just curious ;) )
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: GRONK on May 13, 2011, 11:52:08 AM
Funny but no.  John ECM Test wrote a great article on it many years ago.  Before that it was known as the ignito bypass, after the article, everyone started calling it the ECM Test bypass.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: Whuntmore on May 13, 2011, 11:56:51 AM
Quote from: LaGuardia on May 13, 2011, 10:56:14 AM
Is it some sort of a pun with "Neutered" ?

(just curious ;) )

That's what I was thinking... That would be a funny pun.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: mudkicker715 on May 13, 2011, 12:10:34 PM
The guy that did it wants no credit for that article. John somthing.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: GRONK on May 13, 2011, 12:46:35 PM
John N U T T E R (last name keeps getting replaced w/ ECM test...)
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagle503 on May 13, 2011, 01:31:22 PM
good thing we got that nu t t er thing figured out!
who would want to remove a good engines balls! :rotfl:
better stick to calling it the ecm test bypass to avoid that misconception.



Oh and how about a bad fuel pump or return line being clogged?you say you have to pump it to get it to start I think that is a sign of a bad pump or clogged return line.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: GRONK on May 13, 2011, 03:10:04 PM
Fuel pump wn't effect starting.  There should be fuel in the bowl already.

Choke, timing or spark.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: IowaEagle on May 13, 2011, 03:29:05 PM
I think we coined the phrase "ECM Test Test"  at about the time John said he did not want credit for the test. 
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: mudkicker715 on May 13, 2011, 04:03:53 PM
Return line not needed. Ever
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 13, 2011, 05:17:14 PM
no idea. see i've checked vacuum a bunch of different ways I really have no idea. How would i even check the vacuum while i'm driving?!
and i agree what is nuttered?
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: mudkicker715 on May 13, 2011, 05:23:18 PM
Nuttered is ecm test bypass in the eaglepedia
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 15, 2011, 12:14:14 PM
could my baby just need a tune up all together a few mechanic friends have told me so but it just seems hard to believe considering what she's doing
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: philotomy on May 15, 2011, 01:14:52 PM
Sounds like something is warming up under load then...maybe ??vacuum or choke, fuel starving seems less likely but a fuel filter swap wouldn't hurt either.I'm putting new fuel lines on mine soon (leaks) also check the brake booster hose to manifold but you'd probably feel that throughout the whole range.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: El Matador on May 15, 2011, 01:40:22 PM
Quote from: eagletuner on May 12, 2011, 06:10:23 PM
it will run great for a few kilometers

Your mention of kilometres tells me you're in Canada... whereabouts in this huge land mass are you?  Chances are there's another member nearby who might be able to look at it personally.  Another set of eyes never hurts, especially if those eyes have seen their share of Eagle problems before.
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 15, 2011, 02:03:40 PM
i'm in Ontario not too far from toronto
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: El Matador on May 15, 2011, 02:16:20 PM
Quote from: eagletuner on May 15, 2011, 02:03:40 PM
i'm in Ontario not too far from toronto

I know we have some members in the GTA, but their screen names escape me at the moment.

I'm three provinces away (Alberta) so I can't eyeball it for you.  :(
Title: Re: 85 eagle hates me HELP PLEASE
Post by: eagletuner on May 15, 2011, 02:43:36 PM
i can take a video!