Engine starts only when it is hot or the first spark plug is out

S

snagglewhen

Member
I had a really strange issue start yesterday morning. I was driving the car around the block to further get the hang of driving a stick and test the brakes and when I got back I parked it in the driveway. Since it was nice out, I washed the car and went inside. When I came back out, the car would not start.

After several attempts to figure out what was wrong, I charged the battery (to eliminate that variable) and started to track down the issue. I took one of the spark plugs out to check for spark (there was spark) and the car started. I turned it off, put the plug back in, and everything was good. I could now easily turn off and start the car. I let the car cool down again, and the same thing occured.

I let the car cool down again, and now I can't get it to start at all. The spark plug out thing from before led me to believe that it was an air issue, so I took apart the carb to look for clogs. The carb looked fine, and is now back on the car.

Could water have gotten someplace when I rinsed it off? This seems unlikely to me, as I was able to get it running and driving when the engine was already warm. Any ideas on where to start looking?
 
do your diagnostics again while the car is not starting.. ck for spark if good ck fuel flow.
you can also try loosening the gas cap if u think its fuel.
 
Mitch//pa said:
do your diagnostics again while the car is not starting.. ck for spark if good ck fuel flow.
you can also try loosening the gas cap if u think its fuel.
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I checked for fuel at the carb and spark. There is fuel coming out of the line into the carb and the plugs still spark.

I tried taking the gas cap off. It did not seem to make a difference.
 
Did the rinse off include the engine? Battery, wiring.
The car runs better if all electrical connections are dry, clean, and tight,
What you did different was you washed the car. Use that as your main change of conditions. Do you have a fuse on the starter? Is the holder loose? Is the wiring good? As mentioned above: Spark at the plug will tell you if electrical problem, then is the carb getting fuel? fuel in the throat of the carb when choked?
Bob
 
Recharge the battery overnite. A slow charge is better than a quick charge. Try some starter fluid. I will bet it is chilly out your way and you need a strong battery when the motor is chilled.
Bob
 
Brentwood Bob said:
Did the rinse off include the engine? Battery, wiring.
The car runs better if all electrical connections are dry, clean, and tight,
What you did different was you washed the car. Use that as your main change of conditions. Do you have a fuse on the starter? Is the holder loose? Is the wiring good? As mentioned above: Spark at the plug will tell you if electrical problem, then is the carb getting fuel? fuel in the throat of the carb when choked?
Bob
Click to expand...

I did pass over the top of the engine compartment with a hose. I figured that it was no different than a light rain.

I do have a fuse on the starter. I took the fuse out and reseated it, but it seemed to be in there really well. All of my wiring connections still look to be clean, and they are also dry.

Fuel comes back out of the throat of the carb when I choke it. How much fuel should I be able to see inside the cylinders when I take the plugs out? It looks pretty dry to me, but I do not know how wet it should be.
 
I pulled the spark plugs again. The car is still getting a good, strong, consistent spark. This is why I was looking into the fuel system. I tried starter fluid, but it made no difference.
 
Starter fluid should will ignite in air. If your car does not fire with starter fluid, I would look at spark. John
 
29spcoupe said:
Starter fluid should will ignite in air. If your car does not fire with starter fluid, I would look at spark. John
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I am currently waiting for the battery to charge. Once that is done, I will try putting some starter fluid directly into the cylinder and starting. If that does nothing, I will go back to the spark.
 
Starter fluid to be sprayed into the carb, not the cylinder(s).

Do it timely since starter fluid will dissipate rapidly.
 
29spcoupe said:
Starter fluid should will ignite in air. If your car does not fire with starter fluid, I would look at spark. John
Click to expand...

The spark plug is still sparking a nice, blue spark. Is there anything else that I should check with the spark plug? This is the reason I keep going back to the fuel getting into the cylinders.

I sprayed some starter fluid into the first cylinder and tried to start it, to no avail. I don't know if the fluid would evaporate in that amount of time? I don't think so, so I pulled the plug out, and that still looks good.

Does anybody know why it would start with the first plug out? And once it was warm, it ran great. What is the significance of that?

EDIT:

caboose said:
Starter fluid to be sprayed into the carb, not the cylinder(s).

Do it timely since starter fluid will dissipate rapidly.
Click to expand...

Alright, I did do that. Somebody sprayed the fuel into the carb and I hit the starter. That was the first thing that I tried with the starter fluid.
 
Mine floods and doesn't want to restart after the engine cools down. I am able to restart it by flooring the accelerator to allow more air through the carb.
 
Yup, sounds like he's flooding it.

After the engine sits awhile and the excess gas evaporates, try starting the car the correct way:

Pull the choke rod out to choke the carb and hold it in that position. With the spark advance lever fully retarded and the throttle lever open a little and the ignition on, step down on the starter button and as soon as the engine turns over about 2 revolutions immediately release the choke lever. The engine should fire right up. If gas comes out of the carb throat then you are holding the choke on too long and are flooding the engine.
 
all set.
he is choking a warm engine. guaranteed to flood an A because it breathes so poorly, despite updraft carb.
running fine now

normal learning curve. no worries
 
tbirdtbird said:
all set.
he is choking a warm engine. guaranteed to flood an A because it breathes so poorly, despite updraft carb.
running fine now

normal learning curve. no worries
Click to expand...

Yep, learned that lesson. Guess I'll never make that mistake again. Thanks for all of the assistance guys.
 
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