Slow start
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
Slow start
Is it normal for a 78 vette to take 10 minutes of cranking to start up ?
Well, sometimes it takes longer.
I changed the plugs, the starter solenoid and the battery trying to fix this. What more can I do to get a faster start?
Thinking of changing the carb as well and getting the car tuned.
Or is quick starting just a dream ?
Well, sometimes it takes longer.I changed the plugs, the starter solenoid and the battery trying to fix this. What more can I do to get a faster start?
Thinking of changing the carb as well and getting the car tuned.
Or is quick starting just a dream ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,211
Likes: 64
From: Bocabec, New Brunswick
Shouldn't take 10 minutes to start. My '78 starts in 15 seconds or less. One pump on the gas to set the choke, turn the key and it starts. In fact it didn't take 10 minutes to start it after it had been sitting unstarted for 5 years!
Didn't you say in another thread where you'd left the battery cable off the solenoid that when you connected it the car started right up? In the pictures in that thread you clearly had old plugs so are you saying that you have now changed the plugs and now your car takes 10 minutes or longer to start? Did you use the proper plug type? Did you install them properly, correct torque, no cross threading? Did you get the plug wires back on correctly?
If you've been changing all these things from the beginning in an attempt to correct a hard start problem then have you checked for proper choke operation? Take the air cleaner cover off and watch while fully opening the throttle. Do you see a spray of gas in the primaries and does the choke close? If you don't see a gas spray then there is a problem with your accelerator pump, maybe low fuel level in the bowl. If the choke doesn't close then check its mechanism, maybe a broken spring or detached or missing linkage.
Didn't you say in another thread where you'd left the battery cable off the solenoid that when you connected it the car started right up? In the pictures in that thread you clearly had old plugs so are you saying that you have now changed the plugs and now your car takes 10 minutes or longer to start? Did you use the proper plug type? Did you install them properly, correct torque, no cross threading? Did you get the plug wires back on correctly?
If you've been changing all these things from the beginning in an attempt to correct a hard start problem then have you checked for proper choke operation? Take the air cleaner cover off and watch while fully opening the throttle. Do you see a spray of gas in the primaries and does the choke close? If you don't see a gas spray then there is a problem with your accelerator pump, maybe low fuel level in the bowl. If the choke doesn't close then check its mechanism, maybe a broken spring or detached or missing linkage.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
Shouldn't take 10 minutes to start. My '78 starts in 15 seconds or less. One pump on the gas to set the choke, turn the key and it starts. In fact it didn't take 10 minutes to start it after it had been sitting unstarted for 5 years!
Didn't you say in another thread where you'd left the battery cable off the solenoid that when you connected it the car started right up? In the pictures in that thread you clearly had old plugs so are you saying that you have now changed the plugs and now your car takes 10 minutes or longer to start? Did you use the proper plug type? Did you install them properly, correct torque, no cross threading? Did you get the plug wires back on correctly?
If you've been changing all these things from the beginning in an attempt to correct a hard start problem then have you checked for proper choke operation? Take the air cleaner cover off and watch while fully opening the throttle. Do you see a spray of gas in the primaries and does the choke close? If you don't see a gas spray then there is a problem with your accelerator pump, maybe low fuel level in the bowl. If the choke doesn't close then check its mechanism, maybe a broken spring or detached or missing linkage.
Didn't you say in another thread where you'd left the battery cable off the solenoid that when you connected it the car started right up? In the pictures in that thread you clearly had old plugs so are you saying that you have now changed the plugs and now your car takes 10 minutes or longer to start? Did you use the proper plug type? Did you install them properly, correct torque, no cross threading? Did you get the plug wires back on correctly?
If you've been changing all these things from the beginning in an attempt to correct a hard start problem then have you checked for proper choke operation? Take the air cleaner cover off and watch while fully opening the throttle. Do you see a spray of gas in the primaries and does the choke close? If you don't see a gas spray then there is a problem with your accelerator pump, maybe low fuel level in the bowl. If the choke doesn't close then check its mechanism, maybe a broken spring or detached or missing linkage.
'Started right up' was an over statement. I meant to say that the starter started to turn over when I put the cables right.
I changed the plugs yesterday. I did not know that I had to tighten it to certail torque. I tightened it to the same limit the old ones were tightened.
The choke does not close. I was wondering why it does not. I have not had a chance to look for the gas spray. Will do that soon.
Thanks for the detailed advice.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo New York
It might be helpful if you go through your process for starting the car. If you just get in and turn the key it will never start.
On my '77 and on other carbed cars I have driven before, I have to push the pedal to the floor at least once and sometimes more than once before turning the key and getting it to start.
And sometimes if I push it to many times and the engine floods, I have to push the pedal all the way to the floor and hold it while I am cranking to get it to start.
Good Luck!!!
Chris
On my '77 and on other carbed cars I have driven before, I have to push the pedal to the floor at least once and sometimes more than once before turning the key and getting it to start.
And sometimes if I push it to many times and the engine floods, I have to push the pedal all the way to the floor and hold it while I am cranking to get it to start.
Good Luck!!!
Chris
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
If the choke does not close you have found one of the problems. Is it an electric or hot air choke?
Get that fixed first, change the plugs and see where you are.
With the engine cold, check for the gas spray as said above, if its not there you have annother proble; might be fuel pump letting fuel backflow to the tank or it may be the plugs on the bottom of the carb leaking fuel into the manifold after it is shut off, both problems empty the fuel bowl and will require cranking to refill before it will start.
Get that fixed first, change the plugs and see where you are.
With the engine cold, check for the gas spray as said above, if its not there you have annother proble; might be fuel pump letting fuel backflow to the tank or it may be the plugs on the bottom of the carb leaking fuel into the manifold after it is shut off, both problems empty the fuel bowl and will require cranking to refill before it will start.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
If the choke does not close you have found one of the problems. Is it an electric or hot air choke?
Get that fixed first, change the plugs and see where you are.
With the engine cold, check for the gas spray as said above, if its not there you have annother proble; might be fuel pump letting fuel backflow to the tank or it may be the plugs on the bottom of the carb leaking fuel into the manifold after it is shut off, both problems empty the fuel bowl and will require cranking to refill before it will start.
Get that fixed first, change the plugs and see where you are.
With the engine cold, check for the gas spray as said above, if its not there you have annother proble; might be fuel pump letting fuel backflow to the tank or it may be the plugs on the bottom of the carb leaking fuel into the manifold after it is shut off, both problems empty the fuel bowl and will require cranking to refill before it will start.
I am thinking of getting a new carb as opposed to rebuilding it. Lot of folks here had suggested that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
If its the stock quadrajet it will be tough to find a better carb, if so I would rebuild if necessary. A hot air choke will have a small pipe conected to it, an electrical choke will have an electrical connection on it even if the connector is not there.
Get the choke issue resolved first, then look into the rest of it
Get the choke issue resolved first, then look into the rest of it
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
My 69 L-36 was taking a long time to start when first fired up for the day. I had the choke rebuilt and timing advanced slightly and it starts pretty nicely when cold now. I have noticed a little pinging so I may retard the timing again.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
If its the stock quadrajet it will be tough to find a better carb, if so I would rebuild if necessary. A hot air choke will have a small pipe conected to it, an electrical choke will have an electrical connection on it even if the connector is not there.
Get the choke issue resolved first, then look into the rest of it
Get the choke issue resolved first, then look into the rest of it
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
LOL, Well, I don't think I would call it a simple task, but it ain't rocket science either, but its close. Send it to Lars, he is the carb god in here and will know instantly if you got a stock unit, a boat unit or a bubba unit AND know how to get to do what you want. The price from what I hear is a better deal than buying a rebuilt unit that you have no idea where it came from nor will you be able to count on it having all the correct parts for your application. Save youself the frustration and have Lars do it and expand your skills on the other stuff that needs doing. You could very well have multiple problems on your car affecting the way it runs: Distributor may need rebuilding, plugs, wires, etc...
Its a BIG help when you start on an old unknown motor like that to have 1 component that you know is right, gives you a place to start from.
Its a BIG help when you start on an old unknown motor like that to have 1 component that you know is right, gives you a place to start from.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
LOL, Well, I don't think I would call it a simple task, but it ain't rocket science either, but its close. Send it to Lars, he is the carb god in here and will know instantly if you got a stock unit, a boat unit or a bubba unit AND know how to get to do what you want. The price from what I hear is a better deal than buying a rebuilt unit that you have no idea where it came from nor will you be able to count on it having all the correct parts for your application. Save youself the frustration and have Lars do it and expand your skills on the other stuff that needs doing. You could very well have multiple problems on your car affecting the way it runs: Distributor may need rebuilding, plugs, wires, etc...
Its a BIG help when you start on an old unknown motor like that to have 1 component that you know is right, gives you a place to start from.
Its a BIG help when you start on an old unknown motor like that to have 1 component that you know is right, gives you a place to start from.
Or is it a company?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Nanuet NY
My '81 had similar starting problems. Engine turned, wouldn't start. Would turn over and then stall. Then would flood when I tried to pump the gas and get it going. ( Would run OK once it finally started) In the cold weather it was even worse.
I told this to my dad in Florida who is quite knowledgeable. He suggested that I change the electric choke and and change the coil for a high energy unit. Well, being a dutiful son, I followed his advice. Haven't had a problem since. Starts all of the time. Even in winter it started in single digit temperatures. It's really nice knowing that your car will start !! 2 months ago I had an "older" mechanic adjust the carb a bit and it runs even smoother now.
Good Luck
Ed
I told this to my dad in Florida who is quite knowledgeable. He suggested that I change the electric choke and and change the coil for a high energy unit. Well, being a dutiful son, I followed his advice. Haven't had a problem since. Starts all of the time. Even in winter it started in single digit temperatures. It's really nice knowing that your car will start !! 2 months ago I had an "older" mechanic adjust the carb a bit and it runs even smoother now.
Good Luck
Ed