stalling after freeway drive

[FordPrefect]

I'm on my 4 hour test drive, and so far so good. The only issue is after a couple hours on the highway, the car loses power when I exit. Then it stalls when I slow enough to park. Temp looks ok, everything looks good and it starts ok. After a brief break it strives ok again. I'm trying to decide if I should push on or turn around.....

[So Cal Mark]

is it fi or carbed?

[FordPrefect]

Carbed

[FordPrefect]

Alrighty, I tweaked the idle speed and it did a little better.

At the end though it's stalling again when I stop and the brakes locked briefly...

[bulldog4444]

You might find the problem is just a tad of dirt in the jet at the idle solenoid. Just spin out the solenoid, pull the jet off and take a close look at the tiny hole at the bottom. Just might find a flect of sand or such.

[FordPrefect]

Whew!

Those last few posts were from my phone at a McDonalds, but I'm back.

I'll check out the idle solenoid, tomorrow, I guess. I'm curious if it has anything to do with the heat, though. I haven't had any problems driving around town. It's just during this highway running that it's acting up.

The trip was fantastic. About 4 hours out, and 4 back. I've got a lot of sunburn, a cramped knee, some ringing in my ears, and tremendous relief.

It hums along beautifully along the highway, down some back roads, etc. But it just decided not to idle when I stop. I found myself coasting into gas stations a lot. Fortunately, it starts on the first turn of the key pretty nearly all the time, so I could just start her up and feather the gas a tad when I stopped at lights.

[FordPrefect]

I should add, the reason I'm curious about the heat is that it seems to idle fine after cooling off over dinner. I'll still check the solenoid though, as that's also a possibility.

[dmwhiteoak]

Sounds to me that there may be a longer road trip in the future . Shouldn't be too hard to get the idle problem under control. Been 100+ here and from driving everyday to work I look like a lobster most days. But oh what fun we have.

[FordPrefect]

I took a look at everything today (someone brought to my attention the fact that a brake light was out too), and I believe it may have been a couple of loose fuses.

I blew out the solenoid with carb cleaner, tested the connection (consistent voltage, and a 'click'), cleaned up the grounds and such back at the brake light as well.

Still no brake light, and still problems idling. Checked the fuses, and two were really loose. One had slight singe as well, I tightened the contacts and the brake light went on, and it seems to idle ok.

I'll drive it around a little and see if that was it.

[RoyBatty]

Look for a vacuum leak that is showing itself only at operating temperatures.
Cool engine everything is mated and closed up. Hot engine might open up some leaks at gasketed surfaces.
Or maybe you have an emissions control vacuum switch that is leaking?

[FordPrefect]

I think all the emissions stuff has been disconnected. A vacuum leak is possible. I drove it around today and it still stalls when I stop.

I need to check the voltage on the solenoid at temperature too.

[FordPrefect]

Kind of busy today, so I didn't get to play with the car, but I've had a few thoughts.

1. inconsistent voltage at idle solenoid (or faulty solenoid)
2. possible vacuum leak at the brake booster or check valve
3. possible vacuum leak somewhere else

Since the idle problem seems to happen during or after braking, I'm curious if that's where the leak is. If so, I'm hoping it's just the hose or check valve.

Anyway, if it's possibly something worse, like the booster itself, is this something I can service on my own (diaphragm maybe), or would I be looking at replacing it (looks a bit expensive)?

[FordPrefect]

Well, this one was actually pretty easy to fix.

When I went out there to look at the vacuum hoses, the carb wiggled around. Turns out the whole carb was loose. I torqued it down, and it idles great now.

[RoyBatty]

Gotta luv it!