Cold Starts- Where to begin??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Cold Starts- Where to begin??
1980 L48 200R4
When it is cold out (below 50 deg F) on initial start my engine seems like it is only running on 2 or 3 cylinders and smokes like hell. I have to keep my foot on the pedal and pump a little to keep her going until she warms up a bit and then she smooths right out and is fine with no smoke. When it is warmer outside she starts up just fine. She idles around 800 to 900 rpms when in park and goes down to around 600 to 700 rpm when in gear.
I have checked my choke and it is working.
Is this just tune up issue or is there something else that may be causing this?
I do not plan on driving my car in the winter but it has been tough starting her in the mornings (during the fall).
Any Suggestions would be appreciated
Darrel1
When it is cold out (below 50 deg F) on initial start my engine seems like it is only running on 2 or 3 cylinders and smokes like hell. I have to keep my foot on the pedal and pump a little to keep her going until she warms up a bit and then she smooths right out and is fine with no smoke. When it is warmer outside she starts up just fine. She idles around 800 to 900 rpms when in park and goes down to around 600 to 700 rpm when in gear.
I have checked my choke and it is working.
Is this just tune up issue or is there something else that may be causing this?
I do not plan on driving my car in the winter but it has been tough starting her in the mornings (during the fall).
Any Suggestions would be appreciated
Darrel1
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Check the choke again. It may be working but it is set or adjusted properly? When cold, the choke should be open about 3/8" and fully open when hot.
What you're describing is a choke out of adjustment.
What you're describing is a choke out of adjustment.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Any other suggestions if the choke is set up correctly??
Darrel1
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
Check the choke pull-off. Even with everything else adjusted correctly, it will run as you describe without a working pull-off.
You can connect a hose into the vacuum port on the pull-off and suck on it to see if it moves without starting the car. Otherwise, watch that it pulls open as soon as the engine catches. It is easiest to see if all of the air cleaner hardware is out of the way.
You can connect a hose into the vacuum port on the pull-off and suck on it to see if it moves without starting the car. Otherwise, watch that it pulls open as soon as the engine catches. It is easiest to see if all of the air cleaner hardware is out of the way.
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Brett Foote
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,377
Likes: 6,377
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Choke pulloff operation. The pulloff should open the choke 1/4" measured at the forward lower edge when the engine starts. The pulloff is often ruptured or incorrectly adjusted.