Do I Have A Carburator Problem?
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Oak Park Ca
Do I Have A Carburator Problem?
I need help again, so many of you have helped me lately with the problems I've been having with my 1980 Vette, thank you. I've got another one...
I've got a rebuilt engine & carburator, I've been noticing when the engine is cold car runs fine, but after it's all warmed up, if I stop , when I restart the car I get some light balck smoke from the exhaust and the car is sluggish and idles a bit choppy, once I can start really accelerating it seems to run okay until I have to shut it off again and it starts all over. I wiped the inside of the exhaust pipe and found black soot. Is this a carburator issue - is it running to rich or too lean? I really don't know much about cars, is too rich too much gas? Thanks in advance for the help.
I've got a rebuilt engine & carburator, I've been noticing when the engine is cold car runs fine, but after it's all warmed up, if I stop , when I restart the car I get some light balck smoke from the exhaust and the car is sluggish and idles a bit choppy, once I can start really accelerating it seems to run okay until I have to shut it off again and it starts all over. I wiped the inside of the exhaust pipe and found black soot. Is this a carburator issue - is it running to rich or too lean? I really don't know much about cars, is too rich too much gas? Thanks in advance for the help.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 508
Likes: 1
From: Maplewood NJ
Re: Do I Have A Carburator Problem? (Corvette Lady)
Funny . . . I just noticed the same problem on my 80 tonight. Put the carb back on and the car ran fine while adjusting the idle on a cold engine but after it was warm and I shut it off, then started it again, the engine was choppy and varied it's speed by about 200 RPM. I even noticed the same black soot. :U
Matt
BTW, too rich = too much gas, and too lean = too much air.
Matt
BTW, too rich = too much gas, and too lean = too much air.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Re: Do I Have A Carburator Problem? (Corvette Lady)
Hi Donna,
Do you still have the computer controlled carb on there? I know you can't make many changes here in Ca. because of the tough emissions testing but sometimes it's hard to find someone capable of tuning that particular carb. If you're running fine at start up and the idle slowly deteriorates, you may only have a choke problem. Could be hanging on after car has warmed up causing it to dump too much fuel. This would explain the sooty black smoke and rich condition. If you have the original carb it's tough to offer a fix via the net. You will have to take it to a qualified shop for adjustment. Either of these adjustments shouldn't take more than an hour, so you shouldn't get hit in the purse too hard.
Good luck, Greg
Do you still have the computer controlled carb on there? I know you can't make many changes here in Ca. because of the tough emissions testing but sometimes it's hard to find someone capable of tuning that particular carb. If you're running fine at start up and the idle slowly deteriorates, you may only have a choke problem. Could be hanging on after car has warmed up causing it to dump too much fuel. This would explain the sooty black smoke and rich condition. If you have the original carb it's tough to offer a fix via the net. You will have to take it to a qualified shop for adjustment. Either of these adjustments shouldn't take more than an hour, so you shouldn't get hit in the purse too hard.
Good luck, Greg
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: Do I Have A Carburator Problem? (Corvette Lady)
Your symptoms idicate a rich mixture and it may, or it may not be, a carb problem. I suspect a fault in the ignition system (plug, wire, etc.) or that you are pumping the carb for a warm restart like you would for a cold start. In the case of the latter, you are pumping unneeded fuel into the engine which could result in the black smoke and also cause a poor idle.
