My car won,t start on damp mornings

[jan84]

Hi

I have an old BMW that is really ahrd to start in the mornings sometimes. It turns over but then it stalls straight away. Then I find that it jerks loads and stalls out whenever you get to a junction or lights, I can usually get it going again but I have to press the accelerator pedal a lot which I am told it is bad for the car. I no it doesn't have a choke so what is the problem? it is getting worse now that it's cold and I had to get some men to help me push it off the road on the way to work the other day because it conked out on my way to work and I couldnt start it.

Jan

[AnneCook]

Hi Jan,

You must have an automatic choke so I'm afraid there isnt a lot you can do. You need to get your plugs and points checked and renewed if necessary. If that doesnt help you might have an issue with your carburetor/fule injection. Have you got a friend who has a mechanic who they trust??

good luck

g (Anne's other half)

[Delita R]

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

Good grief! How old is your Nova? Non-starting on damp days was mostly solved by the mid-1990's. With any car less than 15 years old (except for Ladas), the problem has totally disappeared. Cars no longer use distributors since every function is now computerised.

[Guest]

I was just thinking that, I would never buy a car with a choke, that would drive me nuts. DW40 is the way forward,

[franfran]

I was just thinking that, I would never buy a car with a choke, that would drive me nuts. DW40 is the way forward,

Are you sure you were thinking?

[AnneCook]

Electronic ignition and auto choke are great ... till they go wrong. I'm looking at £1000 to sort computerised engine 'management'.
I'm thinking of buying another moggy, choke, starting handle and alll!!!!

[conchuda]

Oh dear poor you I know just how you feel my mini is the same on cold or wet mornings. I always make sure the choke is right out and just sit there trying to start it. My friends laugh at me as I tend to bounce up and down when Im trying to get it going and often plead with it to start - although I dont think that helps! My mini took me 9 tries to start this morning and stalled twice on the way to work. I suppose I'm used to it but it can be a bit frustrating when your running late and a bit embarassing as often my skirts ride up when im sat there trying to start it. How was your nova this morning, its very wet here today?

Baby, make a video of you cranking and pumping your mini in short skirt and high heels,
a hard cranking, (long cranks, angry stomping on the gas) is very popular.
Sell your videos to make money and buy a better car !
There are websites that will buy your vids, lots of guys get off by watching girls crank and pump.

Good luck!

[blondeone]

Help my car is playing up again.I am not sure what the problem is.It only goes no faster than 30 miles an hour with my foot right down and loads of smoke is coming out of the back when i rev it up i sat in the drive at home the other day trying to get it going and it kept making popping noises until it finally went on then it stalled loads on me and that was while i was still at home.do you think it needs some oil

[AnneCook]

Did you notice if the engine was overheating and have you checked oils and water levels.

[franfran]

Did you notice if the engine was overheating and have you checked oils and water levels.

Blown head gasket maybe? Is there a build up of a creamy brown material on the oil filler cap?

[AnneCook]

head gasket is prime suspect. If you are lucky it could just be a plug or a lead that has failed.

[franfran]

head gasket is prime suspect. If you are lucky it could just be a plug or a lead that has failed.

I know from experience that it's not cheap getting a head gasket fixed. If it is the head gasket I suppose the next question is how much is the car worth..............

[blondeone]

how do i know if it is overheating and the car is probably not worth much as i only paid about three hundred for it a year ago.there are some lights on on the display but im not sure what they mean.the gauge next to the petrol one was up at the top yesterday but thats the first time ive looked at it as not sure what it is

[AnneCook]

It sounds like the temp guage was up and if so it does point to the dreaded head gasket.
what kind oof car is it and how old? You might well be better off cutting your losses sorry1

[blondeone]

it is a ford escort and it's an e reg.im just about to try to go out in it if it works so should be fun!!Think i will get dolled up first so a nice man will help me if it stops going!!wish me luck