Mystery stall

[DEZIMADE]

As I work on getting my ‘73 car repaired to its best condition, I find myself facing a persistent issue. My mechanic has never encountered the stalling problem I am experiencing. Although I don’t drive frequently, I started my car on a hot day after it had been in my air-conditioned garage. After driving seven miles, as usual, it stalled before I even left the parking lot and wouldn’t restart.

This recurring problem is driving me crazy, especially since I have a top BMW specialist assuring me the car is fine. This is the fourth time in a year that it has gone in for seasonal repairs.

I am considering asking my mechanic to drive the car for a week to experience the stalling issue firsthand, as it remains a mystery. What should I do? Dez

[Son of Marty]

My first thought is vapor lock, it's becoming a bit of a problem for older cars due to the gas forced on use these days, there are several threads on fixing this here.

[Mike Self]

First you have to determine if it's a fuel or ignition problem. 

 

Next time it stalls, do the usual spark test--take a spare spark plug, connect any spark plug wire to, lay it atop the cylinder head and crank the engine.  If the plug sparks, you've eliminated ignition as a problem, as it's (almost) impossible for the ignition timing to jump back and forth between good and bad.  

 

Next check the fuel situation.  Pull the outlet hose on the fuel pump, put a rag or catch can under the pump's nipple, and crank.  If no fuel squirts out, you either have vapor lock, a plugged fuel line/screen/filter or an air leak somewhere between the gas tank pickup tube and the fuel pump.  Lots of posts on how to troubleshoot.  

 

Let us know what you find from your symptoms, and we can proceed  with a further diagnosis.  

 

mike

[DEZIMADE]

Great information Mike. Will do !! Thanks 🙏🏻 Dez

[DEZIMADE]

All great info Thanks so much I will look ito it. Also I’m having a problem navigating the reply individually on this forum. So if I missed anyone. Thanks to all.  
 

I will make more videos. As I have been out of the loop sort of speak.  🙏🏻 to all Dez 

[DEZIMADE]

All are really helpful. I will mark as soon as I get more information. 

[Russell74Fjord]

In regards to fuel issues, I had a similar problem that was SUPER frustrating, turned out the fuel filter had kinked and once the car warmed up, the kink would pinch closed,,,, took awhile to figure that one out.