tvbones,

Its not the fuel filters. If it was, the engine wouldn't run on the other cylinders. Why is some people's generic solution to all problems a filter change?

Try this because its simple: Don't heat GP. Crank engine with starter and listen for a speed up of the starter for a short burst every second revolution of the engine when cranking. If this is noticeable, it means that one cylinder has low or no compression.

The next step would to find what is causing the low or no compression, It could be a broken ring, valve or head gasket.

P E H

I'm taking her to a mechanic tomorrow morning to get a compression test, and whatever else nees to be done. He is Pat Petrovic at Exclusive motors. He was recommended on this site. Crossing my fingers!

PE Haiges,
I'll try your compression test tomorrow morning. How do I know when the second revolution of the engine is? To me it just sounds steady.

Re: compression test. When the starter turns the engine it has a certain resistance because of the pressure on the cylinders. If the pressure of all cylinders is more or less the same, it will turn like this: rowrowrowrowrowrowrowrow. If one cylinder has no compression (resistance) it will turn like this:rowrowROWrowrowrowrowROWrowrowrowrowROWrowrow.

If it just sounds steady: rowrowrowrowrowrow then the compression is more or less the same on all cylinders. So if one cylinder is not firing it's probably not low compression, in other words you can eliminate burned valves, valve adjustment, holed piston and broken rings from the list of possible causes.

This test is not fool proof, it is only a quick and dirty driveway diagnostic tool. You could still have compression issues, only a proper test will tell exactly what your compression is like.

tvbones,

What Ganarnska said. You will hear a difference in the cranking by the starter if one cylinder has low compression.

P E H

Outsdaning news gentlemen! (and ladies??)
I took to the car to a great mechanic this morning, and all is well. He checked the compression and it was fine. He took the injector line off of the pump, and noticed air bubbles were coming out, instead of a steady shot of fuel. He took the element out, and the 0-ring was in bad shape. He replaced it, put it all back together, and the car runs like a dream!
Thanks for all of your advice!

Excellent.

Never underestimate the benefits of a knowledgeable mechanic.

Help is what we do here

"Your problem is probably something minor and when you find it you will be amazed that you thought about giving up on it." --- Leathermang

Congratulations, and thanks, we all love a happy ending.

What O-ring are we talking about here? In the injection pump?

'83 non-turbo, is this a Euro car? Automatic? ACC? Power anything?

I can't believe I listened to that mechanic who said I shouldn't bother bringing the car in. What a numbskull!

It was the O-ring on the "element" which is between the injection pump, and the injection line.

This is a 1983 non-turbo Euro model. Automatic. AC and Cruise don't work. Typical powered steering, brakes.
Some pics I put up to the sell it last week: http://tony.vernetti.net

Thanks again!

You should go by Numbskull's place of business and explain what was actually wrong... and tell him that smarter people than him know that starter fluid is not the kiss of death...
And post his name and address and a short version of this incident to the ' good mechanics' list....
That kind of obnoxious behavior should not go unrewarded....