Crazy Stalling Problems

[Disco Stu]

My 96 disco 1 with 150k miles has been giving me fits. I try to start it up in the morning, and it idles fine, but then as i start to go and push the accelerator the car starts lunging forward and backward as if I'm pressing, then not pressing the gas when in actuality, my foot is actually steady. There are backfires, and sometimes smoke comming out of the tailpipe. So, when this happens, I park back into my garage, let her sit for about 15 minutes, start her up again, and she's fine! I changed all my plugs, fuel filter, and my stepper motor. I am going to get a new VSS this weekend, but I wanted to see if anyone knows if this is a bigger problem. Thanks!

 

[RoverChic]

What color smoke? Black, White, Blue? Also how is the fuel pump??

 

[Joey]

I am guessing here, but since you are not moving fast when this happens the VSS should not be the issue.

If this happens every time you start the Disco after sitting for a long time my thoughts point to fuel Injectors.

Have you changed the spark plug wires lately? I would also pull the intake hose off and check the butterfly to make sure it is clean... I know not very technical, but my mind is on Telecom issues sorry.

 

[Sergei]

Methinks Joey is right.

VSS typically gives issues on high speed driving and also you would get lovely erratic speedo readings with it..

What you getting looks like truck cant cope with burning petrol (i.e injection and ignition issues).

Also - what values you idling at? Have you touched idle speed settings? Sometime if bloody thing is set up to be too low you will get all sorts of dance from tach.. Sudden jumps and stallings and things like that. Especially if enough power draw provided (lit up headlamps & etc).

 

[Rocky]

Sounds to me like you have a fuel pump problem possibly as simple as dirt clogging the fuel pump intake which drops out again once you leave the vehicle. drain tank and reful with fresh

 

[PHARAOHDISCO]

This is a fuel problem. Measure pressure in fuel line while engine is idling and then just after it stalls. It could also be just a clogged fuel filter.

 

[Disco Stu]

Thanks guys

Thanks for the replies! The smoke comming out is white, the throtle butterfly has some dakness around the edges of it where it meets the housing (i hope that I'm getting the terminology right), is that normal?. I will look into checking fuel line presure. And I will also look into draining the fuel tank and refill with cleaner fuel. On a scale from 1 - 10, how difficult would you say the fuel pump change is? I've never done it yet. Also, speaking of injection issues, I do have a small leak in my radiator, and I read in another thread that this leak may get into the injection connectors, where are the injectors located so I can check those connections?

 

[Joey]

Area around butterfly should be cleaned with some carb cleaner and a rag (easy fix). White smoke sounds like you are buring water or antifreeze (not good).

Radiator leak, if you mean you can see the leak, get it fixed, if you mean that you are just losing water from the tank and it has to be filled you have a problem.

Sounds like a bad head gasket or possible worse. I am not the best back yard mechanic on the board, but I would say it is time to find a good mechanic to look this over unless you know what you are doing.

As far as the injectors go, they will be in the top side of the heads. Spark plugs go in the bottom, fuel intectors are on the top, you will see the fuel rail going to them as well as wires that control them. Four on each side, should be that hard to see.