Engine just shuts off...any ideas?

[Super-G]

I tried taking my kids out last night for ice cream in the Challenger. I fired the car up and let it come up to temp in my driveway. Then we left and got about a mile from home. The car just shut completely off. Just died as I was driving it. My fuel guage was low and we were headed to get gas but I still showed a 1/4 tank.

I noticed that my see through fuel filter was empty and assumed that I had run out of fuel. So I ran home got a gas can and dumped 5 gallons into the tank. I then poured some fuel directly into the carb as a primer....she fired right up  and made it about 1/4 mile before shutting down again!! So now I'm thinking it's not fuel.

I noticed that my filter was pretty dirty so assuming it was clogged, I removed it and hooked the fuel lines back up and the car made it about 1/2 mile before shutting off again. WTF??

I'm thinking 1 of 2 things....it's either something electrical or maybe my fuel pump is no good.

The fuel pump is a brand new NAPA unit that I bought because NAPA pumps are made by Carter and I trust that name.

The car does have electronic ignition and I'm wondering if this is a sign that my electronic control unit is going bad.

Any thoughts or previous experience??

[4Cruizn]

Is the gas tank vented?   If the filter is clear and the is no gas . . . Has to be a fuel issue!     

[Chryco Psycho]

well once it dies you need to check for spark , if there is none the ballast or the electronic pick up coil inside the dist can cause the problem you are having .
 If there is spark it could be fuel , big blocks often wear down the fuel pump pushrod so the pump will not cycle fully , there is an allen screw under the fuel pump remove that & the rod will slide out , there is a slightly smaller diameter part of the rod on both ends , both ends were originally equal length .

[spamtank]

I had a similar problem on mine last year.  It would run for about 15 to 20 minutes then it would stop dead.  After about 10 to 15 minutes cooling is would start back up, then quit after it heated back up.

I replaced the ballast resistor.  That didn't fix it.  I then replaced the ignition coil, and removed the noise suppression condenser.  That fixed the problem.  I've been meaning to heat both of those up in the toaster oven and figure out which one had the problem.

Good luck.

[jimynick]

Is the gas tank vented?   If the filter is clear and the is no gas . . . Has to be a fuel issue!     
    If it fired when fueled through the carb, it's not likely ignition, but to confirm, the next time it does it, feed it with a squirt bottle you take with you and see if it fires each time. Prior advice about the fuel pump is good and you could put an inline pressure gauge at the carb to see how it's being fed, both quantity and pressure. Otherwise, you may have either a leaking line, bunged pickup, plugged vent/cap or a line too close to heat. Good luck! 

[spamtank]

I had a similar problem on mine last year.  It would run for about 15 to 20 minutes then it would stop dead.  After about 10 to 15 minutes cooling is would start back up, then quit after it heated back up.

I replaced the ballast resistor.  That didn't fix it.  I then replaced the ignition coil, and removed the noise suppression condenser.  That fixed the problem.  I've been meaning to heat both of those up in the toaster oven and figure out which one had the problem.

Good luck.

Oh just saw you had electronic ignition.  So you wouldn't be plagued by my problems. 

Hope you solve it.  Nothing worse than not making it to the ice cream shop.

[Trevor Y]

I am having the same problem with my 1972 with 383 and  Old MDS 6A and new Coil and a Mopar electronic distributor.
I thought I had it fixed after going through everything and finding my air gap in my Dist. to be over 20 thou.
It runs better with better spark now that I set it to 8 thou. , but yesterday it died again on me on the highway.
Let her cool and up she goes again. I waited 20 minutes this time for a cool down, thats from past experience that 5 minutes, gave me 5 feet before it died again.
Made it home and left it for now.
I have changed my fuel pick up - blew out my line, new filter, 5 psi fuel all the time, i installed a guage.
I installed a back to stock intake manifold, new gaskets, changed out the Holley power valve to a 4.5, check the float levels and so on.
She squirts fuel when she dies and I have pressure, so I am thinking Electrical.
I'm wanting to change out my distributor or get a new pickup for inside of her and try that.
Otherwise next step is a new MSD box.
Going to start my new post soon.
Thanks and good luck on what you have, but do check your air gap please, they say use a brass filler gauge because it won't stick to the magnet side.
Trev

[HP_Cuda]

The best device you can buy to eliminate problems. Get a inline fuel pressure gauge.

Folks don't realize that not only do you need fuel but you need fuel pressure to keep up with an engines needs. Standard fuel pressure is around 7-9 psi. If your car is running around < 4 you will have problems......

Time to replace the fuel pump.

[1of1]

It is the coil.....very common They get hot and quit......Fuel will get sucked back into the tank on shut off and will normally empty the clear filter ( Tank is lower than filter ), untill you crank it over for restart....

Hope this helps....

[Trevor Y]

I changed my magnetic pickup last night in my 383 dist. and did not help.
Still stalled down the street after heated up.
Checked the spark while hot and it was like 4 sparks and then 4 nothings and 4 sparks and 4 nothings while I cranked the engine using the starter relay with the key on.
I let the car sit for an hour once home, then went out and checked the spark again off the coil wire.
I expected 8 like clean sparks, but it was the same.
I'm going to pick up a new fuel pump today and shop for a new MSD-6A for Thursday.
Everything else has been replaced or cleaned or checked.
Good luck to you.
Trev

[Super-G]

OK so it's NOT spark. I fired the engine up tonight and at idle it ran fine. It had plenty of fuel in the see through fuel filter.

After a quick ride around the block, I noticed that the see through filter was dry and the car stalled. So I am having a fuel supply problem. The pump is brand new from NAPA. The tank was cleaned out and filled with fresh fuel over the winter.

Does this sound like a worn fuel pump pushrod issue??

[Chryco Psycho]

could be or a bad fuel pump or lack of vent on the fuel tank

[spamtank]

Here's a stupid question.  Is the atmospheric side of the fuel pump diaphragm vented into the crank case, and if so, could you be building up pressure in the crank case that is keeping the return spring from pushing the diaphragm back?

Unlikely, because that's a pretty stiff spring as I recall...  And, you would probably be seeing other issues like leaking gaskets.

[Super-G]

could be or a bad fuel pump or lack of vent on the fuel tank

The fuel pump is new (but could still be bad)...talk to me more about the vent on the fuel tank.

[Trevor Y]

Check my Thread!
I changed everything one thing at a time and it ended up being my 2009 MDS-6A unit.
Things to look out for are the coil and the magnetic pick up in your distributor.
Your air gap on this magnetic pick up has to be .008 with a brass feeler gauge, but I have been told by many that the pick up fails with heat and age.
Good Luck.
Trev

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