Anyone who knows old cars.
I have a 1978 AMC Concord.When it's running it makes a popping noise ( pop!.....pop!..... pop!) and the more I excellerate-- the faster it pops ( poppoppoppop!)<<------ sound effects...heh.
Also,if I don't stay on the gas it'll most likely shut off -- like when I'm at a red light or stop sign......
One guy told me it might have a loose valve or something wrong with the push rod. I have no idea.Does anyone have a clue what it could be??
BTW......the alt light stays on if that might help. The battery is good 'cause I checked it by unhooking the cables while the car was running.
I'd appreciate any help I can get with this.
Thanks :(
2006-08-17 16:27:51 · 25 answers · asked by ZEE 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Oh.....I want to fix this car up if possible just for the heck of it.So please don't say get a new one......I have that already.Thanks again :)
2006-08-17 16:40:43 · update #1
It sounds like you have a problem with the timing or with the carborator. On that car you likely have a vacuum advance on the carborator for the timing. It could be loose or the car could have jumped time completely. You need to take it to a good mechanic and have them diagnose your problem.
2006-08-17 16:37:48 · answer #1 · answered by mufasa 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think you have an exhaust valve problem,one of them is not opening. It could be a push rod, or lifter or camshaft. One way to check this is to loosen the wing nut that holds the lid on the air cleaner (just enough to let the lid move a little) -don't get it too loose because the popping is combustion flame and it will come back out the intake and catch the car on fire. If it is an exhaust valve problem you will see the lid move every time it pops. DO NOT TAKE THE LID OFF. Remember, safety first. Get some help from a friend that knows a little about engines Also remember to retighten the lid.
2006-08-17 17:04:16 · answer #2 · answered by B H 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You may very well have a "burned" valve, or a blown head gasket. Do you have "milk" in your oil or oil in your radiator? Is there moisture in your tailpipe? It could be a timing issue...maybe the timing chain stretched and the engine skipped a tooth. All VERY possible! Now, as for your alternator problem. I do not wish to scold, but since you obviously did not know....hopefully you won't make the same mistake again. An alternator works on the principle of electric current. As long as the key is "on" and it's turning, it will continue to "charge". If you disrupt the flow of electrons ( by removing a battery cable) you will potentially burn up your alternator. On older vehicles, you could do this because they were not as sensitive. On newer vehicles (that use alternators), once you disrupt the flow of electricity, there is no where for it to go. This creates excess heat in the regulator, and can cause it to "fry". I've seen them stick closed so they don't STOP charging, thereby OVERCHARGING the battery, and I've seen them just quit. If your charging light came on, it is NOT charging. An alternator is designed to "condition" a battery, that is, recharge it only as needed. It is not designed to charge a dead battery of keep a car running with a dead battery. Have you ever seen a car coming at you with very dim headlights?? That's why....the alternator is NOT designed for the sole purpose of running a car.
2006-08-24 19:06:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its not the spark plugs,,because its running,,if it was them it wouldn't run good enough to drive,,the poppin noise does indicate that the timing may be off on it pretty bad,,i own a repair shop in Tennessee,and i have worked on a few of these cars,,we can assume it has been sitting for a while,,or not,,i would first do a good tune up on it,,also check the valve lash adjustment too,,after this you may want to add some gas additive to the tank,,it may have old gas in it,,and some rust settling off from the tank,,the old ones would do that..also make sure you have at least a half tank of gas when you add the treatment to the gas,,otherwise it may need the carburetor rebuilt on it,,if it hasn't been rebuilt it will have a lot of dryed out gaskets,,also the accelerator pump,,in the carburetor,will be worn pretty bad,,this is what helps it get its take off,,this may not be the complete fix for it,,but it is where i would start,,i hope this help,s,,good luck with it.
2006-08-17 17:03:32 · answer #4 · answered by dodge man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The popping is more than likely cause by a burnt exhaust valve,
not idling at a stop light sounds like a vacuum leak.
2006-08-25 13:31:18 · answer #5 · answered by nbr660 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-03-05 04:21:40 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a master Tech. It sounds like you have a valve problem. Take off the breather and rev the engine up. If it pops back thru the carburetor, you have a flat intake lobe on the cam. Or burned intake valve.
From your description, that sounds like what it is.
2006-08-18 00:38:54 · answer #7 · answered by Cal 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
sounds like you have a rod knocking,try putting some thick oil in it,if it quits knocking thats what it is.if thats the case just pull the motor,im sure you can find one pretty cheap for that car,or since you want to fix it up any way,just tear it down to the bare block and head to a machine shop,build your self a street rod.
2006-08-25 08:00:17 · answer #8 · answered by tornos0701 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Combustion/ ignition problem.... if your plugs are not firirng properly or a bad condenser in case of older vehicles. It could also result from faulty nozzles or fuel line
2006-08-25 05:55:37 · answer #9 · answered by floxy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you say you need to stay on the gas to keep it going, you could be running lean.You should get the fuel/ignition systems checked.
2006-08-25 04:44:56 · answer #10 · answered by Gabriel DDV 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋