slight starting issue
mike561
01-27-2008, 07:21 PM
This started happeneing recently and only when the engine is cold, ill go to start the car, it starts up fine, then begins to putter and want to die out, ill have to keep the gas pressed a bit and rev it a few times for it to stay on steady. i dont think the idle is set too low cause after a few minutes its fine
Blue Bowtie
01-27-2008, 09:48 PM
If the engine is still carbureted, as it should have been when new, there is a high idle cam which is supposed to be operated by the choke plate linkage. The choke pull off will also affect it. The high idle speeds are independently adjusted on the high idle cam, so the hot curb idle setting has nothing to do with that.
Make sure the choke is closing properly when the engine is cold, and that the high idle cam is following along. Make sure the choke pull off is adjusted properly, and that the choke opens properly when warmed. Once the engine is fully warmed, you can check/set the high idle speed.
http://72.19.213.157/files/M4MEFastIdleCam.jpg
The fast idle cam is identified by the yellow arrow.
Make sure the choke is closing properly when the engine is cold, and that the high idle cam is following along. Make sure the choke pull off is adjusted properly, and that the choke opens properly when warmed. Once the engine is fully warmed, you can check/set the high idle speed.
http://72.19.213.157/files/M4MEFastIdleCam.jpg
The fast idle cam is identified by the yellow arrow.
silicon212
01-27-2008, 11:47 PM
Mine did that too, until I was performing a routine maintenance on it and discovered the idle air bleed wasn't tuned properly. Using a dwell meter, it was determined that at idle the idle bleeds (and M/C solenoid since they're intertwined) were pulling about 20% duty cycle (15 degrees dwell on 6-cyl scale). 50% +/- 5% is operating range. On a 6-cyl dwell scale this will be 30 degrees, +/-3 degrees. Adjusting it removed the problem.
mike561
01-28-2008, 01:26 AM
Ok ill take a look at that in my class, they have all the tools and whatnot to do those adjustments. theres always been something falkey about this carb when i got the car, it seems everything on it was mis-adjusted or something.
j cAT
01-29-2008, 07:50 PM
This started happeneing recently and only when the engine is cold, ill go to start the car, it starts up fine, then begins to putter and want to die out, ill have to keep the gas pressed a bit and rev it a few times for it to stay on steady. i dont think the idle is set too low cause after a few minutes its fine
ok now i'll add my 2 cents worth i believe your electric choke stove needs replacing this over time looses it's spring movement and after the engine starts does not have suffcient spring force to keep the throttle plate and hi speed cam in the proper position. do not adjust anything if this is the case because to get it perfect it is a PITA.......after new stove is installed check for throttle plate pull off gap mine was .172 used drill bit or .157
ok now i'll add my 2 cents worth i believe your electric choke stove needs replacing this over time looses it's spring movement and after the engine starts does not have suffcient spring force to keep the throttle plate and hi speed cam in the proper position. do not adjust anything if this is the case because to get it perfect it is a PITA.......after new stove is installed check for throttle plate pull off gap mine was .172 used drill bit or .157
j cAT
01-30-2008, 07:53 PM
This started happeneing recently and only when the engine is cold, ill go to start the car, it starts up fine, then begins to putter and want to die out, ill have to keep the gas pressed a bit and rev it a few times for it to stay on steady. i dont think the idle is set too low cause after a few minutes its fine
I just remembered be very careful when using carb cleaner. if any cleaner gets into the choke pull off /or secondary pull off it will damage rubber diaphram and this will be baddddd......
I just remembered be very careful when using carb cleaner. if any cleaner gets into the choke pull off /or secondary pull off it will damage rubber diaphram and this will be baddddd......
mike561
01-30-2008, 10:24 PM
last night i noticed the little blue wire was disconnected from the round thing on the left side of the carb, so im sure this was contributing to it, dunno how that happened
Blue Bowtie
01-30-2008, 11:20 PM
The "round thing" should be on the RIGHT side of the carb (passenger side). If that's the case, it's the choke heater. If that was disconnected, the choke may not have been opening as it should. If someone compensated by rotating the choke thermostat, you may need to readjust. If it wasn't moved, The choke pull-off may not be adjusted properly.
mike561
01-31-2008, 12:45 AM
yeah it was on the pass. side, it may have accidently gotten disconnected, i was doing some work under there the past few days
j cAT
01-31-2008, 07:23 PM
yeah it was on the pass. side, it may have accidently gotten disconnected, i was doing some work under there the past few days
because the choke gets hot the electrical connector gets damaged over time, and i had to replace with another connector.
because the choke gets hot the electrical connector gets damaged over time, and i had to replace with another connector.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026
