FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

I recently purchased a beautiful FE UTE from Victoria and
since its arrival here in Darwin we have had a problem
with the car stalling every time we try to take it for a run.The car runs fine for about 30 minutes or so,then
it will stall,usually in the worst place.I got the 'Local'
mechanic to go over it.He replaced my battery,blew out
the fuel line,made an ajustment to fanbelt tension,
checked carby float level and suggested i have fuel line
insulated as it may be fuel vapourising. No joy,still
stalling.Check fuel pump,o.k,check water pump,o.k.
new thermostat check.Still stalling. Just had the carby
recond,was tired, still stalling,,please any help appreciated.P.S. reco motor has done only 2500 ks.        

Hi,
     Retenion cylinder head, adj tappets, tighten manifold, redo timing, make sure dizzy isn't one or more teeth out alignment, make sure valve on EX manifold is free to move, seen carby has been done make sure all carby screws and nuts are tight, all new gaskets on manifold and carby, check condition of fuel ( if it smells funny or odd try new fuel ) If you start with the easiest things first like making sure everything is tight then go onto the harder things you will get it in the end, don't give up.

  Cheers Al

Have you had your timing checked and or altered? Also check points gap, Fuel pump, check you have the correct spark plugs and leads fitted, Shitty watery Fuel??, and also are you adding a lead replacement?
Good luck

Does it re-start again straight away? Or do you have to wait a bit?  

My bet is with fuel vaporisation, however I had a similar problem with a car once (not a Holden) and after all the checking, tightening and replacing it turned out to be rust particles in the fuel tank blocking the fuel line IN the tank.  No rust was getting through to the fuel filter or carby, so it wasn't suspected.  

After the engine stalled, the fuel (and rust particles) flowed back into the tank and it would start again and drive for 15 minutes or so and stall again.  

Replaced the fuel tank and it never did it again.

Good luck finding it.  Kevin

Hi Guys.
My Green & Cream FC wagon I had, was doing the same thing as you are describing. Like you said, always at a real bad spot.
Did everything, including a carby rebuild & a dizzy rebuild. Still no joy.
Finally, after I had drained the tank & cleaned all the fuel lines, I pulled the line apart again, that runs from the tank, to the pump & right were the line joins to the flexible bit that leads to the fuel pump, a little round pebble dropped out! Bugger me if I know how it got in there, or what the chance of it being a perfect size to travel up & down the line, but once gone, the car was perfect again.

Hope this helps,

Rob J :)

Thanks to all for their responses.Ive just put the volt
metre on the new battery and confirmed the power is
being completely drained,so a new problem found. A
club mate thinks i better get a auto lecky to check the
generator and regulator before moving to the stall problem.He thinks the problem could be heat related,so
he seems to think i should check or replace the coil and
the capacitor.I am going to replace them,for peace of
mind and i think i'll drain the tank,clean it,blow the lines
out.Thanks for the tip Kevin.Also timing was corrected.
I only use premium unleaded with valvemaster additive.Hopefully i'll have it fixed for our biggest show
of the year,V8 super cars at Hidden Valley.
THANKS from Jose & Liz....  

Try polarising the regulator/generator (I kid you not!) if the polarity is incorrect, running the engine (ie generator) will discharge the battery instead of charging it. The workshop manual outlines the correct procedure.

Cheers,

Graham

thanks to everyone for thier help.after removing the fuel
tank,i found to my amazement several large pieces of
solder in the tank, some as big as twenty cent pieces
and of course hundreds of tiny bits.After several hours
of surgical type removal using improvised tools,including
double sided sticky tape on a stick,all was removed!
After installing the tank,some fresh fuel,and renewed confidence,off for a test drive.STALL!! $%#*!
   After several beers,prozac and a good nights sleep
i get the ol girl going and make it in to town to another
mechanic.The car stalls right on queu,with the grease monkey under the bonnet.He removes air filter,manually
primes the carby and notices only a small puff of fuel of
fuel rising then nothing.A quick test bypassing the fuel
pump.... no stall. solved.The pump is drawing the fuel
somewhat but cant keep the pressure up to the float
chamber.I guess it pays to get several opinions.Ordered
fuel pump kit,and decided to put an electronic fuel pump
in.SCRUFF as he"s known is now our new mechanic.
   thanks a million again to all for your responses.
               Jose and Liz in Darwin.  
 

Sounds good... now you can enjoy your new car!

Do you have an electric wiper motor from an EK for the wipers to replcae the original set up - they run off a vacuum from the fuel pump?

I believe most little electric pumps out of jap cars work well, or indeed a red motor fuel pump can also be used.

Cheers
Dave

Hi top_ender,
Also check the fuel pump inlet hose ;)
If it is the original braided hose it may be deteriorated under the braid and sucking in air.
Regards ACE  8)

I don't have an electric wiper motor as we are in the
start of the build up here in Darwin, so we wont see any
rain for at least 3 months, enough time to fix the original
fuel pump. Will definately check those braided lines
when servicing pump.I've just been told by the better
half we won't be needing wipers cause the Old Girl wont
be driving in the rain!
Will post a photo as soon as i work out how. Thanks
again.  Jose.