Conquest History - October 13, 2003

I arrived in Brooklyn on October 8, and Zack and I set to work the following morning. We first installed a Wells Gold distributor cap and rotor, and a new Standard vacuum advance diaphragm assembly, then replaced the cooling system hoses, along with a new 180 degrees F. Standt thermostat.

The car had been surging on deceleration for a couple of weeks previously, and this was becoming more rapid and intense, despite the work on the ignition system. Nevertheless, on Saturday I attempted to drive back to Kingston, only to have the car die in traffic a few miles from Zack's home. At this point we knew we could no longer disregard this issue.

Starting the car and getting it back to Zack's home was not a problem; subsequent diagnosis was. After two confounding days of numerous tests of the fuel and ignition systems components, we finally landed on a stop-gap solution. Once the idle stop screw was raised and the TPS adjusted, the car started with the ISC and MPS disconnected. This eliminated the surging, trading off for the minor inconvenience of needing to open the throttle with the pedal to warm the engine.

During the course of a fuel pump test, Zack noted a leak from the fuel intake hose crimp, before the throttle body. This chance discovery in all likelihood averted a major disaster. He cut off the aluminum collar with a hack saw, trimmed the hose, and secured the hose to the intake pipe with two hose clamps.

I am exceedingly grateful to Zack for his perserverence in finding a solution, and to Terrence for providing valuable assistance over the course of countless telephone conversations. The car still has problems, but thanks to these two fellow StarQuesters, it has yet another new lease on life. It is exasperating, frightening, and financially draining, yet for some twisted reason I don't want to let it go.