Help...starting problem

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Ford Lover 101, Jul 23, 2010.

  1. Ford Lover 101

    Ford Lover 101 Member

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    My car starts fine when its cold. After I drive it around and shut it off, it''ll start again within 5 mins. but if I let it sit for an hour or so, it wont start until it cools down for another hour.

    I've replaced the ignition box, the coil, the pickup module in the distributor, the solenoid on the fender....nearly everything, but the problem persists.

    Any suggestions welcome.
     
  2. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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  3. Bryant

    Bryant forgot more than learned

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    could be a vapor lock situation. there are two things you need to check when you have the problem.
    first take the coil wire off the distributor and lay over the valve cover and leave a gap of about 1/4". then crank the motor and watch it to see if it has a spark jumping the gap. if it does, and i expect it to sence youve replaced the whole ignitons system, then move on. if not then you have a problem with the ignition system.
    second, take off the air cleaner, open the choke with a finger look down the throttle bore and move the throttle lever. you should see fuel sqirt out of the accelerator pump sqirters. if you dont have fule shooting out you have a carb problem or vapor lock going on.
    one other thing to try is to floor it when it wont start. if it starts when you floor it then the fuel is draining out of the carb and into the motor flooding it out.
     
  4. Bossed

    Bossed Member

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    Like someone said, when you shut it off and it won't start back, check to see if it's firing, if it is, it's probably flooding. Hold the throttle wide open and see if it starts,The float level may be a little high. Good luck.
    Bossed
     
  5. justin has a 74

    justin has a 74 Maverick bandit official

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    Dizzy may be too far advanced.\


    You got headers or exhaust pipes close to the starter?
     
  6. sam03rc

    sam03rc Member

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    had the same problem and it was my carb just being trashed but you might be getting to much fuel or the floats beening set wrong
     
  7. MeanGreen72Mav

    MeanGreen72Mav Member

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    Is the engine cranking when it wont start?
     
  8. apotter80

    apotter80 Member

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    make sure timing isn't too far advanced.(will start hard when hot) also sounds like carb could be flooding motor as previously mentioned. Try putting you foot to the floor to start it. If it fires up try backing off your timing 1/4 and try to start again. If you back it off a little at a time till its starts well when hot, your timing is set very very close.
     
  9. Ford Lover 101

    Ford Lover 101 Member

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    Yeah, it'll crank over, but it just wont catch. I set the timing, its 10 degrees at idle, so it should'nt be too much.

    When I crank it, it wont start like it should, but when I let off the key to the run position, it "almost" starts...I mean its got some combustion, but it should start while Im cranking.
     
  10. Bryant

    Bryant forgot more than learned

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    it sounds like your ignition switch may be heating up and developing too much resistance. the ignition switch doesnt cost too much. may want to try replacing it. or you can check for voltage drops across it when its cold and warm.
     
  11. MeanGreen72Mav

    MeanGreen72Mav Member

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    When you are cranking does it sound like its trying to start? or is it just cranking and then it sounds like it wants to start when you let off the key?
     
  12. Ford Lover 101

    Ford Lover 101 Member

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    It only wants to start when I let off the key
     
  13. MeanGreen72Mav

    MeanGreen72Mav Member

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    What year is the car? Is it a Mav/Comet ?
     
  14. justin has a 74

    justin has a 74 Maverick bandit official

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    Huh?:huh::hmmm:
     
  15. PaulS

    PaulS Member extrordiare

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    Check to see if you get battery voltage at the "I" terminal on your solenoid when cranking (wire off). If not then replace the solenoid.
    It could be "heat soak" where the gas in the carb is boiling due to the heat in the engine when it sits after running - that can be cured with a phenolic spacer between the carb and intake. One would think that any ignition problems would be the same whether the engine was hot or cold. Since it starts fine when it is cold I would say that either the choke is closing (or not opening) or the fuel in the carb is boiling which floods the engine.
     

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