Help.... tips on starting an older truck in cold weather...???
LEESA
for delivery purposes. It's kinda like a smaller bread truck. I am
not sure of the exact type of engine but I do know that it is NOT
electronic injection.
Anyway... Lately, it has been getting cold at night with temps
getting down intyo the 30s.
Now... usually the truck starts fairly easily. He will pump it about
7 or 8 times and then turn the key... and it will usually start up.
Well... this morning, that didn't work. So he continues to pump the
gas and went on and on with trying to start it. Problem is... he did
this for too long and it drained the battery and he needed a jump
start.
Now... this is what we're wondering. Should you PUMP the pedal
repeatedly several times before turning the key? Should you just hold
the pedal down for a certain duration without pumping it?
Can someone give us some tips to get this thing going on cold
mornings. Another thing... the guy that jumped us said that we
probably FLOODED the carburetor and that's what caused to truck not to
start.
How can you keep the carburetor from flooding?
Like I said... it will usually start but today it seemed like more
work than usual so I'm turning to you guys for some pointers.
Thanks in advance
LEESA (I)
m6onz5a
pumping the pedal on older carburetor engines squirts fuel into the
intake to sorta prime the motor.. Generally pressing the pedal once
should set the choke if it's set up properly. Flooded motors you
should hold the pedal to the floor while starting.
I have used the pumping method on a '65 Corvair that didn't have a
choke and on real cold days (under 30F) I'd sometimes crank the motor
for 20-30 seconds before it would fire up. I then bought some starting
fluid to aid the starting on those cold days.
Chas
Vic Smith
Last 350 I had was a '78. Chevy van. Probably close to the one
you're talking about.
Always started after less than 1/2 a revolution, even when it was
-26F. Good thing too, because at that temp even a good battery
doesn't crank long.
Here's what I did every year, usually October.
If the distributor is electronic, skip that part.
Distributor - change points and condenser, check dwell angle and
timing.
Ignition wires - replace with new ones.
Spark plugs - replace with new ones.
Carb - with outside temp below 40F, push throttle linkage all the way,
and check that choke fully closes, and that high idle cam engages.
Warm up engine, and ensure that choke fully opens, and high idle cam
comes off when throttle is tapped.
When the choke is set like this, one press of the gas pedal fully to
the floor will set up the choke and high idle cam.
No pumping necessary. Certainly not at the temps you mentioned.
Pumping leads to flooding.
When starting a flooded engine in cold weather, hold the accelerator
to the floor, and prop the choke open with something that won't fall
in the carb throat. Best to let it sit a bit first.
This all assumes the engine is properly tuned and not worn out, and
that the carb is in decent shape.
The choke on the carbed GM cars I've had can be set by loosening the
cover screws and turning the cover. It's a round thing on the side of
the carb with a shaft connected to the choke butterfly, which is the
top of the carb.
The choke element ages, and can change to not fully closing the choke.
Best to check it every year if you always want your car to start.
Have to take off the air cleaner to see the butterfly.
--Vic
Jules
> How can you keep the carburetor from flooding?
Don't pump the pedal too much... if at all.
Personally I'd go for checking / cleaning / regapping the plugs (as
needed), replacing plug leads (if they're ancient), getting a good
battery, and making sure the wiring to the starter is in good condition
(and the return path to the chassis).
IME cold starting issues are often electrical in nature, with fuel
delivery problems less likely.
A block heater might not be a bad idea - I don't think they're expensive,
and having less resistance due to warmer oil should help.
cheers
Jules
hls
>
> Now... usually the truck starts fairly easily. He will pump it about
> 7 or 8 times and then turn the key... and it will usually start up.
>
You should not have to pump the accelerator like that if the
engine is working as it should. (But many do not work as they
should, and need these priming shots)
You can easily flood the engine with gasoline by doing this.
If so, hold the accelerator to the floorboard and try starting
it again...Dont pump anymore.
If your battery is weak to start with, cold weather makes them
worse.
Maybe your friend should give the vehicle a seasonal tune-up.
N8N
If you have to pump the pedal more than twice to get the truck to
start in cold but not arctic conditions, I would suspect a misadjusted
or faulty choke mechanism, or a weak accelerator pump. Check to make
sure that when you floor the pedal the first time (with the engine
cold) that the choke plate snaps shut, and also (this time, holding
the choke plate open with your finger) that you see a nice steady
stream of gasoline coming out of both nozzles as the throttle opens.
nate
C. E. White
"LEESA" <taylor...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:9b79e076-e454-4f2c...@f16g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
>A friend of mine drives an older truck (1986 Chevy Van) which is used
> for delivery purposes. It's kinda like a smaller bread truck. I am
> not sure of the exact type of engine but I do know that it is NOT
> electronic injection.
How do you know that? A 1986 could have either a carburetor or
Throttle Body Injection (TBI). Engines with TBI look like they have a
carburetor, but in fact, it uses electronically controlled fuel
injectors to supply the fuel to the carburetor looking device. Easy to
tell.....
Removve the air cleaner. If it has a choke plate, it is carburetted.
If not, it is TBI.
If it has TBI, pumping the accelerator won't make any difference. If
it is caburetted, then he needs to make sure the choke is operating
properly. With a carburetor, pumping the throttle might help, but it
is also easy to flood the engine.
A van that old probably should get new plug wires and plugs. If it has
a carburetor, it is important to verify that the choke is oeprating
properly.
Ed
cuh...@webtv.net
manual choke control kit for that vehicle. www.jcwhitney.com
Try a shot of carburetor cleaner into the carburetor instead of starting
fluid.An old ''trick'' is to lay a 100 watt light bulb somewhere against
the engine block to help warm the engine oil.
I love those old ''tricks''
cuhulin