81 fairmont starting

jakegday · #1 06-05-2009, 06:30 PM

hello, im working with an 81 fairmont. 6 cylinder. the problem is it takes FOREVER to start. well it seems like forever. it will crank and crank and crank, while giving gas on and off a little bit. then it will finally start. it always starts. but never right away. just takes lots of cranking. the fuel and air filters have been replaced along with a fresh oil change. also new plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor. '

if you drive it for a little bit, then shut it off, it will start right back up. just dont let it sit for more then 5-10 minutes or its back to the beginning

any ideas?? please.....

rhandwor · #2 06-06-2009, 07:31 PM

If I remember correctly 81 to 83 Ford Fairmount have a carburetor push the gas pedal to the floor make sure the choke plate closes. Normally it takes two pushes to the floor to prime the carburetor. Some times the accelerator pump goes bad or the float level needs adjusted.
After it starts make sure the vacuum pull off opens the choke appx. 1/4 inch.
Napa used to have a good supply and quality carburetor parts.

jakegday · #3 06-07-2009, 04:28 PM

i know NOTHING about carburetors. im not sure how to check and make sure the vacuum pull off opens the choke 1/4 inch.
before that, were you saying i need to press the gas to the floor 1-2 times before i start it?

rhandwor · #4 06-07-2009, 07:55 PM

This is the way to start a car with a carburetor push the gas pedal to the floor twice this primes the engine and closes the choke. Hold about the gas pedal 50% and try to start.
I would suggest buying a carburetor manual and reading it in your spare time.

jakegday · #5 06-08-2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhandwor

I would suggest buying a carburetor manual and reading it in your spare time.

lol, defenitely. already planned on that

jakegday · #6 06-08-2009, 01:37 PM

is there anything ignition related, that i havent already done, that could be causing this problem?

rhandwor · #7 06-09-2009, 05:29 AM

Their are a few things ignition related. I would take a can of starting fluid take the top off of the air cleaner push the choke open a little and give it a couple of sprays sit the top on and try to start. If it starts up immediately its fuel related.

jakegday · #8 06-09-2009, 02:12 PM

thanks for the advice. also, thanks for helping me along with this. before i start it i try pumping the gas twice and holding it at %50 then cranking (like you said). this helps, sometimes. less then half the time actually but it does help a little. the starting fluid made no difference. what are some of the ignition things that could cause this?

jakegday · #9 06-09-2009, 05:34 PM

well after trying the starting fluid more and more throughout the day i found that it does help.....

rhandwor · #10 06-09-2009, 05:57 PM

I would take the module to Advanced or Auto Zone and get it checked free.
Haynes manual shows you how to ohm the coil.
Use a 12 volt test light on the coil negative it should blink when trying to start.

jakegday · #11 06-15-2009, 11:18 AM

the module passed 6 out of 6 tests. according to the fuel pump test described in the haynes manual, the fuel pump is good. i can not find how to ohm the coil anywhere.
is there any chance a bad catalytic converter could be causing this issue? i thought about disconnecting that just to see if it makes a difference.......
is there anything else ignition related that i could try? i was thinking the timing but once it gets started, it runs perfectly.
the haynes manual gives ALOT of info about the 4 and 8 cylinder carbs but not very much on the 6 cylinder. i took it off the car, cleaned the hell out of it, replaced the detiorated vacuum hoses, and still no difference. i know it has the holley 1946 1v carburetor, and i have searched the internet endlessly, and have not come up with jack for info on this thing...

jakegday · #12 06-15-2009, 04:03 PM

well i used the internet to figure out how to ohm my coil, its good.

rhandwor · #13 06-15-2009, 05:57 PM

I still think its your carburetor go to a parts store like Napa and price a rebuild kit. You need the number off the little metal tag on the carburetor. Their are instructions in the kit. Check the intake and base of carburetor nuts and bolts for tightness.

jakegday · #14 06-15-2009, 08:58 PM

i read "carburetor kit" and thought wow, sounds expensive, but autozone has them for $20. does that sound right? from the pic it shows several gaskets and a few small parts....

jakegday · #15 06-16-2009, 07:23 PM

alright, i went to autozone to buy the kit. i took the carburetor apart, rebuilt it using all the new parts that came in the kit, followed the instructions as much as i could (they were quite poor) and now it actually runs worse. i had to raise the idle to help it a little. It now dies while driving, like when i let off the gas to go to make a turn or something. And it still does not start right away either.

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