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1972

Fuel supply to the carburetor needs to be checked. The fuel system including the fuel pump and filter will need to inspected is there is no supply at the carburetor. The carburetor may need to be checked for filling as...

This hole is specifically designed to be in that location and is for the oil pan dipstick. This is used to check the oil. I would suggest going to your local parts store and purchasing the correct dipstick for your...

Check for proper advance of ignition timing. In particular, verify that advance curve you observe matches factory spec. Measure fuel pump output/pressure against factory spec. If engine compression is good and balanced, apart from timing check and fuel pressure check,...

Hi there - the "combustion bang" you hear taking place at the header flange probably indicates a leak at the donut gasket as you suspect. Unburned, or still burning, fuel catches some fresh oxygen at the flange, and ignites, producing...

Hello there, a few common faults can cause your 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass to only work on the #2 speed air flow. You are correct, the blower motor resistor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/cooling-fan-resistor-replacement) could cause this fault. Other likely causes would be the fan...

There isn't one per se. There will be a fused wire with voltage to the instrument cluster (your owners manual should indicate which fuse), but the temperature sensor is providing a variable "resistance to ground," which the temperature gauge in...

Hello. It is possible that there is a wiring issue, or that the carburetor is actually leaking fuel into the engine which flooded it. I usually pull the spark plugs first to see if they are covered in fuel. If...

The first to do is to make sure the engine turns by putting a socket and breaker bar on the crankshaft pulley bolt and turning the motor. If the motor turns, then you know it is in the wiring. Follow...

If you step on the brake pedal and it feels soft or drops to the vehicle floor, air has entered the system. However, if the brake pedal is hard and difficult to depress, the power brake booster may be at...

When dealing with an older vehicle such as this, the most common cause of a poor idle is a carburetor problem. Before condemning the carburetor, the engine should be inspected for any loose or leaking vacuum hoses. The ignition timing...

Hi there. We have a few mobile mechanics in the Frisco area, so if you'd like to see if one of them could come to your location to complete an oil / filter change and top off fluids on your...

Gasoline is generally not usable after 3 to 6 months. If gasoline has been stored in the vehicle for a lengthy time, the problem is likely that there is just simply nothing to combust. The volatile components in the gas...

Hey there. If the smoke is not coming from the exhaust, it may be possible that the white smoke is coming from oil leaking onto a hot exhaust manifold or another piece of the motor or exhaust. The PCV valve...

Hello. There is a return spring on the assembly that must be dislodged or broken somehow, and when this happens there will be issues with the pedal returning. Have the pedal assembly and the hydraulic portion of the system inspected...

There is still a ground path problem from the engine to the instrument cluster, whether through the chassis or not. Might be worth running a new ground wire directly from the engine block to the ground connector on the instrument...

Hello there. Thanks for writing in about your 1972 Chevrolet El Camino. A few different faults could cause the vehicle to have shifting and acceleration problems. The most common would be the transmission linkage, low fluid level (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service), torque converter,...

The carburetor needs a good supply of fuel to keep the engine running; if the fuel pump is not suppling the fuel, or the filter is clogged solid, then fuel cannot get to the carburetor. If fuel is getting to...