1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

So my car doesn't like to burn or contain gasoline...

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Old Jul 20, 2007 | 11:11 PM
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EonBlue's Avatar
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ROTISSERIE ENGINE POWER!
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From: Winterpeg, Canada
So my car doesn't like to burn or contain gasoline...

A couple of tidbits came to my attention at autox today.

1. I have very weak trailing spark. Barely anything when attached to the wire coming from the distributer, the wire from the coil didn't fare much better. Didn't check the leading with the spark tester though. Ignitor failure would mean no spark and no signal to the tachometer right? And wouldn't a bad coil just decrease in resistance and fry the ignitors?

2. Gasoline apparently leaks out in hard corners. Like, it actually leaks out from the fuel door and lands on the ground. The gas cap looked ok, any idea on this?

Hopefully I can clear this up and fix my atrocious fuel mileage. Or at least help it anyways, I have a dragging caliper and possibly a clogged cat.
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Old Jul 20, 2007 | 11:40 PM
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trochoid's Avatar
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From: St Joe MO
Contacts in the dizzy cap may be corroded, plug wires may be old and have too much resistance, plugs may be old/fouled, etc. Trailing does little for performance, it's main purpose is to clean up emissions. Try a new fuel cap, if that doesn't help, check the gasket under the plate that holds the filler tube to the body.
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Old Jul 20, 2007 | 11:40 PM
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Originally Posted by EonBlue
A couple of tidbits came to my attention at autox today.

1. I have very weak trailing spark. Barely anything when attached to the wire coming from the distributer, the wire from the coil didn't fare much better. Didn't check the leading with the spark tester though. Ignitor failure would mean no spark and no signal to the tachometer right? And wouldn't a bad coil just decrease in resistance and fry the ignitors?

2. Gasoline apparently leaks out in hard corners. Like, it actually leaks out from the fuel door and lands on the ground. The gas cap looked ok, any idea on this?

Hopefully I can clear this up and fix my atrocious fuel mileage. Or at least help it anyways, I have a dragging caliper and possibly a clogged cat.
Since the trailing has very little to do with power. You are correct, If there is spark then the ignitor is working. I would recommend doing an ohms test on the ignition wires. Also make sure there is no corrosion build up in the coil tower or on the ignition wire ends. Recommend that you also remove the ignitors. Clean the backs of them and pick up some thermal paste to put back on them.
If you are leaking fuel from the fuel filler neck than 1 of 2 things is wrong. Either the seal on the cap is bad or the neck is damaged in some way and sealing the cap. Or the filler hose between the tank and the cap area is bad.

A dragging caliper will destroy your fuel economy as well as a clogged cat. You should not be running the cat if you have removed the emissions. The cat relys on the air pump to provide air into the cat to raise the temp and burn off the excess fuel that is not burned. What you are doing by not running the emissions is just allowing the unburned fuel (HC) to soak the cat and destroy the inner elements.
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