Engine stalls unless you give it gas:

[Stewart G Griffin]

If a carbed CCC (after 81) car stalls out in neutral unless you give it gas then please list all possible reasons in order of likelihood.  NOTE: it has a manual transmission.

Thank you.

[gildardo01]

dirty carb, bad fuel pump, not enough fuel pressure, fuel filter, choke issues... bet others can come up with more issues...

[Stewart G Griffin]

NOTE:  It does not stall out if revved above idle.

[81_Chevy]

bad fuel/air mixture screw adjustment, idle screw adjusment, timing could be off, vacuum leak

[winky]

Did it just start doing it suddenly? If so I'd go with 81 Chevy on the vacuum leak. Get someone to keep it running smooth and spray carb cleaner ( the flammable stuff) around all vacuum lines and see if it'll bog down or idle up

[bobcooter]

I'd check the fuel filter next. I always check the cheap/simple things first.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Did it just start doing it suddenly? If so I'd go with 81 Chevy on the vacuum leak. Get someone to keep it running smooth and spray carb cleaner ( the flammable stuff) around all vacuum lines and see if it'll bog down or idle up

It did not start doing it suddenly.

[bd]

What model, what year, what engine?  Does it puff any smoke out the exhaust (color?) or surge at idle before stalling?  Does engine temp have any bearing on the symptoms?  Does the Check Engine light work; is it on?  Codes?

Check the condition of vacuum hoses.  Verify the timing if you can keep it running.

You should determine early on whether it's fuel related.  If it's not blowing black exhaust smoke, spray for vacuum leaks as suggested, using B12 or similar carb spray.  Hover the carburetor with a rag to temporarily enrichen idle mixture and see if it will idle - just be mindful of backfire through the carb - wear gloves. 

Can you provide a little history on the symptoms and any repairs performed just prior and since the symptoms began?

[Stewart G Griffin]

87 chevette with the 1.6 gas.  i'm not sure about puffing any smoke---will check.  It does not surge at idle before stalling.   Not sure if temp has any bearing on the symptoms as i haven't driven it any appreciable distance.   Check engine light does not stay on.   Haven't checked codes but that is a good idea.


As far as history, this is the way i got it.

[zieg85]

Look in the carb to see if gas is dripping, accelerator pump.  2nd I would check for brittle/dry rotted vacuum lines.  On some of those older cars they had an electric solenoid that held the idle up, and when you shut the key off it would drop and when they went bad you lost the idle.  My $.02