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ok, this may be a dumb question [ Starting ]

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J

joeq

Jedi Hopeful
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but am i starting my car correctly? when i start it (after not using it for about a week), it takes 8 or 9 tries to get it to roll over. when i had it at the shop, the mechanic said it started up for him repeatedly on the first try (granted, he wasn't letting it sit for a week between tries... probably more like a day.)

here's what i'm doing: pulling out the choke, twisting it to lock it in place, and then turning the key while giving it gas. this is the only way i've ever started a car, yet i don't know why he and i would be having such different experiences.

any tricks that i'm missing? if not, how would you go about diagnosing such a problem (the battery was recently tested and checked out ok)?

what is considered typical for you all? do your cars usually go over on the first try?
 
On an SU carb, depressing the pedal may actually partially defeat the starting part of the carb. If the carbs are adjusted so that the engine is on fast idle (about 1200 rpm) when the choke is fully pulled, Depressing the pedal is not necessary or desirable.

Wait for the fuel pump to stop ticking before the first try.
D
 
"Wait for the fuel pump to stop ticking before the first try. "

i'm not sure i know what you mean. in fact, i'm sure that i do not know what you mean /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

Joeg, Sounds like your car is acting just like a Healey should after setting for a bit---Keoke Dave means that when the car sets there is little or no fuel available to the carbs until the Clicking of the fuel pump stops. Turn the ignition on and listen for it to click until it stops now with choke out try to start the car.
 
Tell you what, loan me your Healey and I'll diagnose the problem within 90 days, guaranteed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Really, though, try the gas-pedal-down, choke-knob-out, release-gas-pedal, then-engage-starter technique. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

Don't worry about fuel pump clicking thing. Just wait 10-15 seconds after turning on the ignition before engaging the starter.
 
If you have a SU electric pump AND the float bowls, due to evaporation or very small leaks, are partially empty after the car sits for a while, (not uncommon) the pump will tick rapidly when you first turn the key on, until the carbs are full again. The pump will then stop ticking or tick very slowly which means that the carbs are full. The mixture will be extra lean with partially empty floats & cold starting will be very difficult. If you by chance don't hear any ticking it means the carbs are already full or the pump isn't working right.
D
 
I agree with Dave.I have found that both my Healey and MGB don't start as quickly with the accererater depressed.It defeats the purpose of pulling a richer mixture into the cylinder.Just make sure the idle setting is correct while the choke is out.Good Luck,Ben /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif Editor Reid, that is not going to help /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif-Keoke
 
[ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif Editor Reid, that is not going to help /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif-Keoke

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, it does for me. Guess my Healey is unique. I'll tell it to stop starting easily when I do that... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif Editor Reid, that is not going to help /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif-Keoke

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, it does for me. Guess my Healey is unique. I'll tell it to stop starting easily when I do that... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[/ QUOTE ]----Yep you better have a little talk with that car no sense in having the only odd car on the Forum---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Good morning. I've been using the depress the gas pedal, pull out the choke, then release system, and the car starts pretty well. But, it misfires pretty badly for the next 5 minutes, even though it's hot weather. Can someone please tell me why and what I should be doing? Thanks.
 
Scott, is the choke still pulled while it's stumbling? If so, it just may be too much choke for the ambient temp. On one of my cars, on a hot day , if I don't come off the choke quickly after a cold start, it will stumble and run like garbage until I open the choke fully.
Jeff
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif SHG , The choke when properly set up should remain in the cold start position until the engine starts to warm up, then gradually eased off until fully closed at running temperature.-FWIW---Keoke
 
There is a talent known as "The art of choking British cars". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bruce
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif Bruce

I justs could not list them all---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
SHG: I may be misunderstanding your question, but if the "misfires pretty badly for the next 5 minutes" is actually due to spitting back through the carbs it could be that you don't have enough or the right 'weight' of oil in the dashpots. You might check that out. Mine did the same thing.
For Editor Reid: Mine does the same as yours. I think the key to it is that you only have the gas pedal depressed while pulling the choke out all the way. When you are actually cranking the engine the gas pedal is NOT depressed.
 
hey, i tried it and it worked great! thanks!

one more question (actually, that's probably a lie!)... how long should the choke stay out? just til the car warms up a bit?

[ QUOTE ]
Try depressing the gas pedal all the way, THEN pulling out the choke (with gas pedal still depressed), then release gas pedal, then engage the starter. Give it a little gas if/as necessary.

[/ QUOTE ]
 
Well, since I'm on a roll... I think the definition of how long you leave the "choke out" (that is, continue to ask the carbs produce a richer mixture) is basically "only as long as necessary to keep the engine running smoothly/without stumbling." In other words, as soon as the car runs OK without being choked, stop choking it. So you will probably find that after initial starting (with the choke fully out), you can push the choke knob in a bit and it will still run OK, and as it warms up it will need less and less choke to run smoothly until you get to the point where you aren't choking it at all and it is running smoothly. This will vary from car to car depending on how the carbs are adjusted among other things, but generally it should not be more than a few minutes. Now then, it may idle smoothly but then start stumbling again when you try to drive away. Simply re-apply a little choke to keep it running smoothly during acceleration, and push the choke knob back in as much as you can and as soon as you can, such as after you attain a steady speed and the car runs smoothly without any choke.
 
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