My car won,t start on damp mornings

[AnneCook]

Hi Kate,
Sorry if I blinded you with science. The way to clear a flooded engine is to push the gas pedal to the floor gently and hold it there while you turn the key(without pumping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) You might have to hold the key for quite a while before it catches but if ther is enough juice in the battery and there is nothing else wrong the car will start.
This does not work if your car has an auto choke. I assumed if it was a 70's car it would have a manual. If it does have an auto choke let me know. I think know the answer but I want to double check.
The dizzy is a round thing with four leads going into each top 'corner' and one big lead going into the centre. The four corner leads go to each spark plug. Cleaning and drying those leads and the top of the dizzy cap will often help a lot. The other things i mentioned are inside the dizzy. The cap is usually easy to get on and off on most cars but you have to be ready to get your hand a little dirty when you mess around in an engine. If you can get inside clean and dry everything you can see and make the metal bits shiny with a very fine emery paper. The stuff you file your nails with.
Everything I'm telling you is for an older car. Get a friend to show you what these parts are. Let me know how you get on

[AnneCook]

Hi again Kate,

Does your car have a manual choke? If it does give it two or three pumps before you turn the key and use half choke with only an occasional pump. Don't ever pump like fury.
If it doesn't have a manual choke pump it gently before you turn the key and the try to avoid pumping altogether.
Have you got a good battery?
Again good luck!

A's hubby

[ANITA ANDERSON]

Whenever it is cold and damp my vauxhall nova will not start,The other morning I was sat for 1/2 an hour cranking away It doesn,t seem to matter if the choke is out or not Then when I do get it going it will quite often conk out at the first stop sign then all I get is a load of blokes beeping and calling me a silly woman,Has anybody had any similar experiences and could offer me some advice

[ANITA ANDERSON]

Hi guys,just signed up,i've been passed my driving test for less than 12 months and i drive a 1967 morris minor,it does have a manual choke which i usually need to use in the morning when its been standing over night but once i get it going i can usually push the choke in fairly quickly but it can be tricky knowing how much choke to use,to little and it wont start,to much and it can quite easily flood so it can be awkward.....ANITA..XX

[AnneCook]

So hows it going kate?

[AnneCook]

and how about 2cv girl

[AnneCook]

or sarahjane?

[Sara Beth]

Hi everyone, and hi Kate. I am in the good ole US as well Kate and can sympathize with you. I have an older car that was my grandfathers. It is a 1968 Chevrolet Impala 4 door and it gives me problems starting after it sits for several days. I don't drive it a lot, maybe once or twice a month. It stays stored out in the little shed by my house. Is it pretty common to have to sit and pump the gas over and over while starting it? I am not sure if it is just me or what. I am more accustomed to the new cars and it seems like every time I try to get the thing to start, I have to pump it until my foot hurts. What am I doing wrong?


Sara Beth

[AnneCook]

If the car doesn't start, or try to start , pumping just builds up petrol that has nowhere to go. After a few tries keep the gas flat on the floor and hold the key till it catches. then coax it with the gas - never stamp on the pedal.

Also if you don't need the car, start it every day or so to keep it sweet.

[Guest]

I am not so sure that somepeople dont , how can I put it, get slightly turned on having problems with their cars, e.g. getting them started when they are cold or having choke problems or flooding their cars. I read on a website recently that this is a new type of fetish which seemed to start in the states a few years ago and is now making its way across the pond. All just seems a little odd to me but hey whatever floats your boat, doesnt seem like there's any harm in it. Anyone else heard of it??

[sarahjane113]

Hi Anita

How many tries does ur morris minor take in the mornings? They are such cute cars!

[Guest]

The carb on older cars, has a float chamber where fuel for the engine is stored when it comes from the fuel pump. The level of fuel in this chamber is critical to smooth running and particularly, starting.

Assuming the fuel tank, fuel lines, fuel filter (old and blocked = common fault) and pump are in good order, if the fuel level is low in the float chamber, then the chamber's float valve can be simply adjusted to increase the volume of fuel in the chamber. Four barrel carbs have two float chambers.

By pumping the pedal, you are operating the accelerator pump on the carb, which dumps neat fuel into the engine helping it to fire, but if the float level is low, starting will be difficult.

..btw don't forget to check spark plug gaps too.. too wide apart and the spark will be weak.

None of this stuff is rocket science and even the dimmest person with a bit of enthusiasm can sort it out. Try it, its fun!!

[Guest]

...if you think of your carbs float chamber like a toilet cistern. It has a set volume of water inside it and a float valve (bawcock) that is easily adjusted by bending the rod to get the desired water level. Your carb is exactly the same, only in minature!

Best of luck..

FMJ

[ANITA ANDERSON]

Hi Anita

How many tries does ur morris minor take in the mornings? They are such cute cars!

Hi Sarahjane,it used to take as many as 6 or 7 attempts before it would start but i found out i wasnt using the choke properly,now i can get it to start usually 1st time in the morning but i do keep it in a garage overnight which helps..........Anita....xxx

[sarahjane113]

Hi Anita
My mini often takes 6 or 7 tries in the mornings especially when its wet. I dont have a garage so that might also be a factor maybe. Glad your having more luck with your car. Hows your friend getting on with her fiesta?