Troubleshooting Starting Problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 259
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From: Breaux Bridge Louisiana
Troubleshooting Starting Problem
I know this is vague but I'll give it a shot. I've never had a serious problem starting my car other than on cold mornings would take a few tries to get it to turn over. We'll about a week ago I tried to start her up after some cold weather and rain and it kept turning over and over and over but wouldnt start. Then after a while it got so bad after a few turns it would just bog down and wouldt want to turn over anymore, sounded as if battery was giving out after trying to turn it over for so long. We'll I tried to jump it and it did the same just turned over until it would just end up not turning over anymore. Then left it alone for about 8 hours then tried again and started with like one crank...
So, I thought it was a fluke but then tried yesterday and same thing turned over alot but wouldnt start...then got to the point where it wouldnt barely turn over after 5 or 6 tries. Tried to jump it again and did the same would just crank till it would bog down.
Any ideas? I was thinking the starter, but would it crank at all if it was the starter? I'm just not sure what I should do..dont wanna start replacing stuff that aint bad...any help would be great, thanks.
So, I thought it was a fluke but then tried yesterday and same thing turned over alot but wouldnt start...then got to the point where it wouldnt barely turn over after 5 or 6 tries. Tried to jump it again and did the same would just crank till it would bog down.
Any ideas? I was thinking the starter, but would it crank at all if it was the starter? I'm just not sure what I should do..dont wanna start replacing stuff that aint bad...any help would be great, thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
I agree with 74FLCONV that if your engine is turning over the starter is doing its job.
If you have made any changes to the engine recently I would start by looking there to see if you forgot to tighten something down resulting in a vacuum leak, etc.
To start an engine you need spark at the right time and a good air/fuel mixture ratio, lets think about some common causes of these not being there...
Check your distributor to make sure your mechanical advance is not stuck advanced. You could try to retard your ignition timing a bit too.
Could also be a carb issue. Is your engine flooding when your turn it over? Spark plugs soaked with gas won't fire. If you are flooding your engine the gas will wash oil off your cylinder walls and thats not good. Gas gets into your oil as well so you will want to change it.
Your carb could be leaking - look in the intake before you start it up in the morning and see if its wet in there.
Conversely if your engine is not flooding maybe you need to give it more gas by stomping on the gas pedal a few times and then try to start it. This will make your carb's accelerator pump shoot gas into the intake.
You may also have a vacuum leak which would lean out your A/F mixture. Check carb gaskets & bolt tightness, you could disconnect as many vacuum accessories when this problem happens and see if it makes it start any easier.
Good Luck & keep us posted when you figure it out. Problems like this are the fun ones!
If you have made any changes to the engine recently I would start by looking there to see if you forgot to tighten something down resulting in a vacuum leak, etc.
To start an engine you need spark at the right time and a good air/fuel mixture ratio, lets think about some common causes of these not being there...
Check your distributor to make sure your mechanical advance is not stuck advanced. You could try to retard your ignition timing a bit too.
Could also be a carb issue. Is your engine flooding when your turn it over? Spark plugs soaked with gas won't fire. If you are flooding your engine the gas will wash oil off your cylinder walls and thats not good. Gas gets into your oil as well so you will want to change it.
Your carb could be leaking - look in the intake before you start it up in the morning and see if its wet in there.
Conversely if your engine is not flooding maybe you need to give it more gas by stomping on the gas pedal a few times and then try to start it. This will make your carb's accelerator pump shoot gas into the intake.
You may also have a vacuum leak which would lean out your A/F mixture. Check carb gaskets & bolt tightness, you could disconnect as many vacuum accessories when this problem happens and see if it makes it start any easier.
Good Luck & keep us posted when you figure it out. Problems like this are the fun ones!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: If the world didnt suck, we would all fall off. Troy,Ohio.
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08
Originally Posted by Boofers
I agree with 74FLCONV that if your engine is turning over the starter is doing its job.
If you have made any changes to the engine recently I would start by looking there to see if you forgot to tighten something down resulting in a vacuum leak, etc.
To start an engine you need spark at the right time and a good air/fuel mixture ratio, lets think about some common causes of these not being there...
Check your distributor to make sure your mechanical advance is not stuck advanced. You could try to retard your ignition timing a bit too.
Could also be a carb issue. Is your engine flooding when your turn it over? Spark plugs soaked with gas won't fire. If you are flooding your engine the gas will wash oil off your cylinder walls and thats not good. Gas gets into your oil as well so you will want to change it.
Your carb could be leaking - look in the intake before you start it up in the morning and see if its wet in there.
Conversely if your engine is not flooding maybe you need to give it more gas by stomping on the gas pedal a few times and then try to start it. This will make your carb's accelerator pump shoot gas into the intake.
You may also have a vacuum leak which would lean out your A/F mixture. Check carb gaskets & bolt tightness, you could disconnect as many vacuum accessories when this problem happens and see if it makes it start any easier.
Good Luck & keep us posted when you figure it out. Problems like this are the fun ones!
If you have made any changes to the engine recently I would start by looking there to see if you forgot to tighten something down resulting in a vacuum leak, etc.
To start an engine you need spark at the right time and a good air/fuel mixture ratio, lets think about some common causes of these not being there...
Check your distributor to make sure your mechanical advance is not stuck advanced. You could try to retard your ignition timing a bit too.
Could also be a carb issue. Is your engine flooding when your turn it over? Spark plugs soaked with gas won't fire. If you are flooding your engine the gas will wash oil off your cylinder walls and thats not good. Gas gets into your oil as well so you will want to change it.
Your carb could be leaking - look in the intake before you start it up in the morning and see if its wet in there.
Conversely if your engine is not flooding maybe you need to give it more gas by stomping on the gas pedal a few times and then try to start it. This will make your carb's accelerator pump shoot gas into the intake.
You may also have a vacuum leak which would lean out your A/F mixture. Check carb gaskets & bolt tightness, you could disconnect as many vacuum accessories when this problem happens and see if it makes it start any easier.
Good Luck & keep us posted when you figure it out. Problems like this are the fun ones!
