Questions and Answers

Cadillac Seville Stalls At Idle Q. Hi Vincent, I have a question, hoping you can help. My son has a 1979 Cadillac Seville, automatic. It's has seen it's better days but until he can save up to buy a better car we need to keep this thing running somehow. Lately it hasn't wanted to stay running when at an idle when the engine is warm, when the engine is cold it idles.

So when he drives it, unless he can shift into neutral and give it gas while having to come to a stop or almost complete stop it dies, then won't start up again until it is cold. Can you give us an idea as to where to even start with this problem.

Thanks,
Laurie

A.It sounds like he has a vacuum leak Laurie. Look behind the carburetor by the carburetor base. There is a fitting with a fairly large 90° vacuum line attached to it. This is one of the PCV hoses and they are notorious for splitting and creating a vacuum leak large enough to stall the engine.

If that hose is okay, then check all the other vacuum lines and make sure they are in good shape and attached securely.

If the vacuum lines are good, then i would replace the fuel filters and then take a look at the carburetor itself. If you hold your hand over the carburetor and partially close off the throat, and the idle picks up, then it is running lean. The best thing to do is to have the carburetor adjusted with a four gas emission analyzer. But in the mean time he can turn the mixture screws out a ¼ or ½ turn. They are in the front of the carburetor, down by the base.