Car starts but then shuts down about 5 seconds after

[DC68]

Had the 68 Charger out last weekend, and it was running fine for about 10 miles.  I stopped off at a gas station and left it running for about 2 minutes.  I got back in and it acted like it wanted to die about a 1/4 mile into the drive.  It seemed fine, then about a half mile later it died.  I thought it was gas, but I put more in and it still wouldn't stay started.  It would actually start and rev for about 5 to 10 seconds, then slowly die.  Any suggestions?  Fuel pump/filter, carb cleaning?

[bordin34]

Check your ballast resistor. It is that ceramic thing with 2-prongs on the firewall. Buy a new one, they are not that expensive.

[68chrgrwife]

Our car is doing the same thing....but I think hubby already put in a new ballast resister...gotta check.....

[bordin34]

Bulkhead connectorr?
Ammeter gauge?

[ChgrSteve67]

Sounds like a plugged fuel filter to me.

Could also be a stuck float.
Wrap on the fuel bowls of the carburetor with the handle of a screw driver a few times.

If it was a vapor lock problem it would not start at all for about 15 minutes.

Steve (Got rid of my carburetor because of these kind of problems - now I have new problems)

[bordin34]

Fuel Pump
Fuel Pump Pushrod

[DC68]

Thanks all for your advice.  I'll probalby start with the fuel filter and go from there.  I'll let you know what it was after I fix (hopefully) it!

[Tilar]

When you stopped at the gas station, did you actually put gas in it? If so, I'd be checking for trash or water.

[471_Magnum]

Could be several things.  First you have to determine whether it's fuel or spark. If it's fuel, you've generally sputter a bit before it dies. An ignition problem will have it stopping cold (like you shut off the key).

If it was the fuel filter, the car probably would not restart. It might be dirt in the idle circuit on the carb, but a filter won't help. You'll have to tear down the carb and clean it.

The balast resistor can be checked with a multimeter. Could als be the condensor (if you've still got the points). Both will create similar symptoms.

[Todd Wilson]

My 69 did this a few years ago and it had a brown muck in the bottom of the carb below the floats. A really fine brown particle passed thru the fuel filter and settled in the bottom of the carb.  Cleaned the carb out and replaced the filter. The old filter had some gas run out of it when I took it off and it had some of that brown sandy stuff in it too.


Todd