Motor

[hornetracr99]

i have a 94 plymouth laser 1.8L manual. when the hood is up the car idels smooth. but when you lower the hood when it gets to about halfway down the motor starts to cut in and out. like it wants to die. does anyone have any idea what is causing this. we tried it with the fans on and off and we got the same results. and there are no wires that are bing pinched.

[Dirtman29]

I dont know chit about lazers, but something HAS to be getting pinched somewhere, I would suspect a vacuum line. Check all around where the hood sits when closed, front, fenderwells, by firewall. Is the hood still "factory" attached, on hinges? If so, gut it & use hoodpins. Does it instantly run again when hood is reopened?

[hornetracr99]

its on hinges and from what we can see nothing is getting pinched. and yeah as soon as the hood is opened it runs fine

[Dirtman29]

Just asking, are there any elec. wires running thru those hinge openings, seen guys do that for toggle switches.

[hornetracr99]

no the toggle switch wires go through our decking under the dash. we were just mind boggled at why it was doing this it doesnt make any sense to us.

[Dirtman29]

Is it possible one of those wires is grounding out (getting pinched) when the hood closes, maybe up under where its not easily seen? Are the wires anywhere near the hood hinges? Do those hinges go into the firewall when closing the hood, or are they on the sides?

[hornetracr99]

they are not by the hood hinges and the hood hinges are on the side. the wires go up the middle and come out where the stero and stuff would be at.

[Dirtman29]

I dont know, Im sure it will be something simple, you just have to find it, got to be electrical or a vacuum line. Good luck.

[car62]

have you actually took the car on the track with the hood off...if so did it run fine?

could it be something along the lines of the hood is blocking the airbox?

[hornetracr99]

the car ran great on the track the first night out and the hood was on but im sure we will get it figured out thanks to both of you guys for ideas.

[Hiredgun]

Run it in the dark. Maybe bad plug wires and when you close the hood it is arcing on the hood. Sometimes se it in the dark, or just relace the wires.