This morning when I went to start my 89 Brougham I encountered a problem. I got in, pumped the gas twice as usual and turned the key. The engine turned over but was weak and shaking. The engine sputtered for a few seconds and slowly stalled. I cranked it again and got no turn over. I pumped twice again and got the same result, this happened for three more attempts. Finally I tried again and proceeded to feed it gas by holding the pedal down. It was still sputtering but was running. I held the pedal for a few seconds and eventually the engine ran as usual.

A little scared but relieved that I started it, I stopped and filled up at a station about 10 miles away. I added some STP FI/Carb treatment to my gas after filling up to see if I can try to ungunk something that may have clogged. For the remainder of the day the engine started and ran as normal.

This isn't the first time I've experienced stalling and sputtering. Sometimes the car likes to sputter at this one intersection near my house, it would be the first stop/go intersection of my drive. It also sputters for a split second sometimes before the high idle at the first morning start up but after that split second begins the high idle as usual.

If you ask me I would guess fuel filter, since I never changed it and is most likely original with almost 123k on the clock. My other guess is the carb and that it may need a rebuild. Does anyone agree or disagree? Also with that problem this morning, did I handle it properly, or should I just have left it alone rather than fought it to start? Thanks.

This morning when I went to start my 89 Brougham I encountered a problem. I got in, pumped the gas twice as usual and turned the key. The engine turned over but was weak and shaking. The engine sputtered for a few seconds and slowly stalled. I cranked it again and got no turn over. I pumped twice again and got the same result, this happened for three more attempts. Finally I tried again and proceeded to feed it gas by holding the pedal down. It was still sputtering but was running. I held the pedal for a few seconds and eventually the engine ran as usual.

A little scared but relieved that I started it, I stopped and filled up at a station about 10 miles away. I added some STP FI/Carb treatment to my gas after filling up to see if I can try to ungunk something that may have clogged. For the remainder of the day the engine started and ran as normal.

This isn't the first time I've experienced stalling and sputtering. Sometimes the car likes to sputter at this one intersection near my house, it would be the first stop/go intersection of my drive. It also sputters for a split second sometimes before the high idle at the first morning start up but after that split second begins the high idle as usual.

If you ask me I would guess fuel filter, since I never changed it and is most likely original with almost 123k on the clock. My other guess is the carb and that it may need a rebuild. Does anyone agree or disagree? Also with that problem this morning, did I handle it properly, or should I just have left it alone rather than fought it to start? Thanks.

Something similar happened to me friday I hadn't run my 94 fleet for a few days and when i started it it seemed like it wanted to stall and almost did then, when i put it in reverse a few minutes later it wanted to stall again so I shut it off and did not use it that day.

I used the car today which was really low on gas and it started fine I went and filled the gas tank and it ran well the whole day I don't know what happened the other day but maybe my car was playing with me =)

It sounds like a carberator or choke problem. Get it checked somewhere. They can fix it for you and it doesn't cost too much.

It sounds like a carberator or choke problem. Get it checked somewhere. They can fix it for you and it doesn't cost too much.
Will do, I've got an 8 AM on Thursday.

Hmmm... interesting turn of events. Today I went outside, pumped gas twice, held gas pedal halfway down as usual, but this time I heldthe starter a little longer before giving up and the engine turned over perfectly with no shake or sputter. According to my newly acquired 1989 Brougham shop manual I may have flooded the carb with all my pumping and cranking that day. I wonder if that's all I really did?

You said it happened sometimes before. I'd still get it checked. Drop it off on wensday night. They can't adjust it properly right after you drive it there.

Well that was the original plan but I cancelled the appointment because I've got too much going on this week and will most likely set it up for next week. However I'm suspecting the Carb/FI Treatment I added to the fuel must've did something. I've used 1/4 of a tank since then and the car's been running much better with no stalling or weak start-up. Maybe that STP stuff cleared up some gunk or something? Anyhow I intend to use that stuff monthly to keep the fuel system clean and still get it checked out.