having trouble starting the 77
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 202
Likes: 7
From: Texas
having trouble starting the 77
ok let me say first that the car had been running fine since my last post on the forum, but today when i left work when i turned on the car it seemed like it wanted to turn off. i would rev it and it seemed that it was misfiring. i also noticed black smoke coming from the tailpipe. as i left work and about 15 mins into driving i got to a stop light, and the car turned off on me in rush hour traffic. i pushed it to the nearest parking lot. so then i tried to start it and all it would do is turn over. i checked the carb and it was shooting out gas from the jets and it was overflowing. disconnected one of the hoses to the fuel pump to let some gas out and the jets stop shooting gas. tried to start the car and it would do nothing, not sure if the battery drained. still had power for the windows, radio, etc. towed the car home and took all the plugs out to clean them. plugs 5, 6, and 8 threw gas out. tried to turn on the car and turned a bit. then would stop and lock. continues to do this. could this be a carb issue and a battery being drained, or something else?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
As you suspected it sounds like the car flooded...for an unknown reason. I would put the battery on a slow charger, remove all the plugs and let the car sit overnight to dry out all the cylinders. Install a new set of plugs and don't forget to change the oil. Raw gas can dilute the oil. Now why is the carb flooding? I assume you have a stock quadrajet??? Could be fuel pump is pushing too much pressure? You could hook up a gauge to test. Could be you needle, seat and or float assembly is not working. Remove the airhorn on the carb and inspect. Also pull the fuel filter. Is there junk in there. If this junk bypassed the filter it could be causing problems with the needle and seat. Also make sure you choke is operational. There may be other reason you carb is flooding, but this should be a good start. Once the carb is fixed, oil changed, battery charged, engine dry and new plugs installed fire away. Good luck.
Last edited by 71406; Mar 19, 2010 at 09:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 202
Likes: 7
From: Texas
i turned on the car today, it started perfectly this time. i did notice the carb has some black gunk in there and i can see it in the fuel filter. some time ago i had my alt belt twist and i guess all the debris got sucked in there. i also smell the gas at the back of my tailpipe, and spots of it on a rag. i will change out my plugs, oil and clean the carb out. hopefully all will be done by today if it doesnt rain. looks cloudy and was drizzling already. never fails, only time i get to work on the car the weather says otherwise.
