QuestionI have a 1980 Jeep Wagoneer. I have changed the carb., fuel filter ect... but the dang thing keeps stalling out. It seems to only do it when its been running hot or climbing up hills. What should I do?
AnswerFirst you need to prove that the problem is lack of fuel, before you spend any more money guessing.
The way to do that is to be prepared with a can of WD-40 spray, and the next time it dies on you, take the air cleaner off the top of the carburetor, and while a helper cranks the engine, give it a short squirt of WD-40 down the front barrel of the carburetor - if it starts, even if for only a second or so, you know your problem is lack of fuel. If it doesn't start, even momentarily, your problem could be lack of spark.
If it is lack of fuel, you are probably suffering from vapor lock - so you need to check the fuel pump output.
If you have or can borrow a fuel pressure gauge, check to see if the fuel pump is putting out at least 3 PSI at the carburetor input. If not, your fuel pump is failing. When you change the fuel pump, be SURE to change all the rubber hoses in the fuel system, including those back at the tank, because the modern fuel mixtures we have now are death on fuel pump and hoses - it eats the old rubber that was used up until a few years ago - that is probably what ruined your fuel pump also.
If that doesn't cure it, and it is still lack of fuel, you may have to add an electric fuel pump in series with the original type pump - and turn it on as a booster when you have fuel starvation problems. More and more as the gas gets worse, more and more cars are having to add electric pumps to keep going in hot weather.
Modern cars already have electric pumps, so they don't suffer this problem.
If the problem is not lack of fuel, you'll have to investigate the distibutor and all the wiring involved with it - especially the pickup coil in the distributor - they often fail only when it is hot, they will be OK when cold.
I hope this helps you figure out what is wrong,
Dick
