Vette will not start
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Vette will not start
I took some friends for a ride on their 25th anniversary. We parked the vette after about a 10 mile ride and when I came outside to leave about an hour later my baby won't start.
It is a 72 vert 350ci engine. It turns over fine and acts like it is either flooded or is not getting spark. We hit it with a shot of ether and that did not work either. This happened once before about a month ago and I let it sit overnight and it fired up fine the next day and has been fine since. I'm perplexed if I have an electrical issue or a stuck choke or flooded carb.
I left it at my buddys house (outside)
I'm bummed....
Any suggestions?
It is a 72 vert 350ci engine. It turns over fine and acts like it is either flooded or is not getting spark. We hit it with a shot of ether and that did not work either. This happened once before about a month ago and I let it sit overnight and it fired up fine the next day and has been fine since. I'm perplexed if I have an electrical issue or a stuck choke or flooded carb.
I left it at my buddys house (outside)
I'm bummed....
Any suggestions?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,426
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Hi again and welcome to the forum,
If it's flooded you might try holding the gas pedal to the floor, that works most of the time.
However why is it flooding?
Are the needle & seat in need of repair?
Or is there dirt in there?
What carb do you have, A Q-Jet missing a filter?
Could be vapor lock.
Are the fuel lines near an exhaust pipe?
You have a few things to check before the problem can be found.
If it's flooded you might try holding the gas pedal to the floor, that works most of the time.
However why is it flooding?
Are the needle & seat in need of repair?
Or is there dirt in there?
What carb do you have, A Q-Jet missing a filter?
Could be vapor lock.
Are the fuel lines near an exhaust pipe?
You have a few things to check before the problem can be found.
Thread Starter
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It was dark out and we needed to leave, so we had little time to diagnose. All connections to the dizzy cap looked fine. It may be vapor lock, but I'm not too familiar with those symptoms other than my dirt bike days.
I did floor it, but that did not work either.
It is dry out, no cracks in the dizzy cap. I did not pull a plug to check for spark.
Any more thoughts on vapor lock and remedies?
Thanks for the help....
I did floor it, but that did not work either.
It is dry out, no cracks in the dizzy cap. I did not pull a plug to check for spark.
Any more thoughts on vapor lock and remedies?
Thanks for the help....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
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From: Austin TX
Remove the air cleaner and look down the primaries on the carb while you work the throttle linkage by hand. You should see squirts of fuel into each primary.
If the above reveals that you have fuel supply,..
Pull a plug wire from the spark plug, install another plug, then ground the plug (away from the carb).
While another is cranking the engine, see if you're getting spark to the grounded plug.
Report back your findings and we'll diagnose.
If the above reveals that you have fuel supply,..
Pull a plug wire from the spark plug, install another plug, then ground the plug (away from the carb).
While another is cranking the engine, see if you're getting spark to the grounded plug.
Report back your findings and we'll diagnose.
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Thanks for the trouble shooting help. I will try this tomorrow evening if it does not start after sitting and get back to you with the results or let you know the side pipes are roaring and my baby's back home.
Thanks again
Thanks again
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I hopped in tonight hoping for the best, turned the key and she fired right up!
She idles great, runs and responds great just like nothing happened.
Just like last time, I let her sit ovenight and presto.
What do you suggest I do to diagnose the issue so it soes not happen again...I'm perplexed.
She idles great, runs and responds great just like nothing happened.
Just like last time, I let her sit ovenight and presto.
What do you suggest I do to diagnose the issue so it soes not happen again...I'm perplexed.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 3
From: Indiana
I hopped in tonight hoping for the best, turned the key and she fired right up!
She idles great, runs and responds great just like nothing happened.
Just like last time, I let her sit ovenight and presto.
What do you suggest I do to diagnose the issue so it soes not happen again...I'm perplexed.
She idles great, runs and responds great just like nothing happened.
Just like last time, I let her sit ovenight and presto.
What do you suggest I do to diagnose the issue so it soes not happen again...I'm perplexed.
When starting (mine) warm I do not pump the gas pedal. Just give it about 1/4 pedal and turn the key when it's warm. Someone above suggested looking to see if your fuel lines are routed close to the exhaust. If so, it can cause a fuel delivery problem.
If you get stuck next time I would take the air filter off and see if you have a strong gas smell. If so, you flooded it. Every time you press the gas pedal you give it a shot of fuel. It doesn't need it when warm.
