Questions and Answers

Sluggish Cadillac Q. I have a 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood, rear wheel drive, 150,000 miles or more, with a 307 Olds engine, 4-barrel carburetor, P/S, A/C and cruise. The problem I have is when I'm trying to pull a hill I lose power. If I'm going down hill I can go at least 45-50 miles an hour.

On a straightaway I can do about 25, but hills make her bog down. When I try to accelerate it feels like the car is sputtering, it also cuts off at times when I slow down or come to a stop. I've put plugs on her, fuel filter (along chassis) I've changed the catalytic converter, I've checked my hoses from carburetor. Still having problem. Let me know what to try next.

Thank you.

A. Okay, the problem here is the fuel filter. Not the one you changed, the one you didn't change. If you take the air cleaner housing off and look at the carburetor you will see the fuel line coming into the carburetor. It screws into a fitting with a one inch hex head. Inside this fitting is a small fuel filter. It can be a stone or paper type filter.

To change it take off the fuel line and using a one inch or adjustable wrench, loosen the fitting. Once it's loose, screw it off. Be careful here, there is a spring inside there as well. You don't want to lose it. Also look at the old filter as far as the way it goes in. If you put the new one in backwards, it won't run very long.

When you put the new one in and start the fitting, be VERY careful. It is very easy to cross thread that fitting and if you do it's almost impossible to get it to seal again. Repair may be involve a new carburetor. When you get it as far as it will go by hand, snug it down good, but not too tight or you will strip the threads. Again, not a good thing.

With a little bit of care and a $1.00 filter, she'll be running like new in no time.