Minor Stag Issues/Features.....

[henry_exeter]

Hello Everyone.

First of all - I've been reading this forum since I bought a Stag in April and joined the SOC. You all seem very friendly, and I realise that by buying a Stag I have bought not just a car, but a 'way of life'?!!!

I'm new to this, so I'm still trying to come to terms with minor issues that might be faults, or could just be 'Stag Features'.

Recently driving up a hill I found that when I pushed the accelerator to the floor, I lost power. If I pushed it half way down, then all was ok (anyone living near Exeter, the hill was Haldon Hill). My fuel gauge showed 1/4 full. As it started to come down the other side of the hill, the problem went away. I refuelled, turned round - tried the hill again, problem solved.

My low level fuel warning light also flashes at half full. So does this all mean that I have a faulty fuel gauge? Or is my fuel pump on its way out? Or are both of these meant to make sure that what ever happens, you KNOW your Stag needs refuelling and will never actually run out..?!!

Other minor issues - all of which I can live with.... the fuel filler cap shutting process seems to be based on luck (push shut - let go - does it stay shut or open again - if it opens try again. Repeat until closed). The electric windows wind down, but need hand assistance to go back again (I have cleaned the channels) - a wonderful Stag safety feature to stop hands/heads/necks getting caught?

I have successfully stopped the boot from'selfventing’ (auto-opening) - a new striker plate from Rimmers has been fitted. I have also fitted a new Sony Bluetooth Radio (yes, hands free mobile phone in a Stag!). I have also managed to make the wiper's stop (rebuilt park switch).

So life with a Stag is good, but if anyone could help with any of the above (which might just be a case of telling me that my car is normal) - you might make life even better!

Henry, Exeter

[mad cyclist]

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hi Henry

fuel cap can be that the bar in the cap base that the lock engages can be bent, or turns when you engage sometime.

fuel reading see my thread yesterday, yours sounds normal.

on your hill bit it could be many fuel related/carb issues, or a bit of dirt which you cleared.

my window was fine till i cleaned the channels and lubed it!! now sounds like yours maybe a bit of trim is fouling that wasn't before and thats the same in your case.

rgds Nick

[al-stag]

imported post

When I got my Stag it was misfiring a bit. On reflection I think it was old petrol, dirty carbs and knackered ignition components. It had only done 50 miles in 12 months before I got it.

On the advice here I dismantled the tops of the carbs, cleaned and polished the slides, replaced the diaphragms, and topped up the dashpots. I aso replaced the distributor cap, rotor arm and plug leads (the plugs were new). That lot was less than a hundred quid but money well spent.

As time has gone on (2000 miles now), the Stag has run better and better and you can floor the throttle in top from 25mph and it will accelerate smoothly away with no hesitation at all all the way up to 80/90. I dont think you should get any hesitation like you describe something is wrong and possibly the carbs may need adjusting.You see the fuel warning from just under half full, I have run the tank quite low and never noticed fuel starvation

Al

[henry_exeter]

imported post

Thanks for the replies Al and Nick

The problem only happened whilst going up the hill, and it cleared as soon as I reached the top. The car ran smoothly before (I had driven around 500 miles before the issue), and has run smoothly since (a few more hundred – but I have not let it run below about 1/3 full). It also ran up the hill fine after I had filled it. Of course, I take the point that the fuel level could have been coincidental, and the fuel starvation could have been caused by something else…. It does accelerate happily (and very rapidly) from 25 up to 90 and apart from the hill issue I really can’t fault it in any way. The ignition is electronic, the plugs are new…and….., I have never seen the temperature gauge go above 1/3..!

Does the Stag suffer from a fuel starvation issue when it is it driven up inclines whilst low on fuel, or when it runs out, does it just stop (like most other cars)?

It would be interesting to repeat the exercise and see if I can reproduce the issue - can I do any damage if I actually run out of fuel?

Thanks again,



Henry

[mad cyclist]

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Hi Henry

only damage could be if you suck up 30 odd years of debris which will probably be in the bottom of the tank, and block pipe/carbs ect.

i would let sleeping dogs lie , there is steep and steep of course, if you are talking 1 in 4 and a low tank it may have been unusual circumstances and it was fuel starvation.

rgds Nick

[samrussel]

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When I bought a Stag, the PO said it had a faulty gauge, and I had to fill up frequently on the long run home (about 300 miles). When I got home I parked outside my house. When I went to move it, it would not start. No petrol, I thought, so threw in a gallon. Still no go. So checked the fuel filter - full of air. Checked the fuel gauge with a meter - all OK. So pulled the fuel feed from the tank - discovered the pipe was only reaching halfway into the tank. Extended it with soe beer hose and all was OK. The camber on the road had caused the pipe to come out of the fuel.



So check the feed pipe in the petrol tank.

[StagnJag]

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Are you sure that hose is going to be petrol resistant? If it isn't you could end up putting all sorts of plasticky gunge through your carbs:shock:.

Rgds
Dave