My 72 Z is acting up.......................................

[72 OJ]

It is getting warmer here in the Land of Mary.......my Z the other day seemed to running out of juice for a few minutes it struggle acting likes out of gas or electric juice, step on it so it will not die and it went back to normal. On saturday she was dead and a new battery revived her and all back to norm. Today I did an errand some 40 miles, after a short rest for cafe,got on the road and she started to act up,,,,,,felt like running out of gas, carbs not responding, she did not go over 50 mph for 5 miles or so and farted twice, then she went back to normal mode and running fine. The temp this morning was at 69 degrees. Is she having vapor lock issues and it is not boiling hot season yet.Any suggestion on what to do,,,,,,,thanks in advance:disappoin

[5thhorsemann]

Do a charging system check up, it ain't vapor locking in the 70 degree range. I say charging system because of the death of the battery.

[72 OJ]

thanks 5th.......the alt/meter is in the + side while running/.pass mid point on gauge.The battery was 3 yrs old and tested as bad.

Edited March 19, 2012 by 72 OJ

[beermanpete]

I'll second the charging system possibility. Your symptoms could be due to low system voltage.

[5thhorsemann]

thanks 5th.......the alt/meter is in the + side while running/.pass mid point on gauge.The battery was 3 yrs old and tested as bad.

Passed mid point + at like 5:30 or 5:35 or mid point + side like 4:00 or 4:30? I would check batt voltage, when off, when running and when running with lights and blower running. Too much voltage can make the car do strange things, depending on how the car is equipped, ignition system and the like.

[72 OJ]

ok, to the local autozone in order for a charging system check.

[72 OJ]

Yep,,,,,,you guys are gurus .....THANKS......bad alternator/weak.Order part #14118 Duralast with a lifetime warranty for only 31.99 + tax , be here tomorrow.

[Marty Rogan]

Well, I hope that actually was your problem. I took an alternator to Autozone once. I watched the guy put it on the test jig, with the belt obviously loose. Of course it read weak and he wanted to sell me a new alternator. I said no thanks. Took it to a reputable shop that does nothing but rebuild alternators and starters. He tested it and said it was perfect. I don't trust those chain store guys anymore.

If that does not fix your problem, at least the alternator was cheap with a good warranty.

[LeonV]

FYI, there are charging system testing procedures in the FSM, without even having to take the alternator out of the car.

[5thhorsemann]

I, generally speaking, don't take parts to a parts salesman to have them tested to see if a replacement is in order. I will however say, that I do think he has a charging system problem, and I hope the alternator solves his problem.

[72 OJ]

I do hope that it is the alternator, it was tested on the running car,with lights and fan on and with them off , the manager at the store is a neighbor a block from my house , after install I will post the results..... btw on the way to the store and back it acted up for a couple of minutes,floor it and back to normal, good girl ,she took me back to her resting pad.

Edited March 19, 2012 by 72 OJ

[MotoManMike]

Lee let me know how this turns out I didn't have time tonight to probe for specifics on the phone but if turns out not to be the problem I've got another possibility, I wanted to ask if your ignition had been converted to electronic or not. Let's hope it is the alternator that's cheap and easy.