Since the increase in snow on Monday and drop in temp I haven't been able to start my car. I have an '82 GSL with a 12a engine in it. It's completely stock and I have heard from others that I maybe able to adjust my carb to help with the weather. Anything would help at this point. I know it's not the starter or battery, we've checked them. The car only has 60k miles on it so I don't think anything has suddenly broken on me. Please help!

 

what are the simtoms when trying to start? it may be flooded happens alot more in the cold caz its harder to start the car

 

The chances of flooding your car are much greater when its cold outside. It's a bit of an art to learn just how many times to pump the gas pedal, just how far to pull out the choke, etc.

To unflood it, you can pour a couple caps full of motor oil down the small barrels on the carb. Or, what I've been using lately in place of oil that's been working great is Seafoam.

A rotory is not like a piston engine, and if you don't know how to de-flood it you will never get it running again. Good luck with it, and if you continue to have issues just post back.

Welcome to the forum.

 

You need to run a little rich in the cold because fuel doesn't vaporize very well. Just as important is that you have good spark... since cold reduces your battery performance (even if the battery is perfect the colder temps slow the chemical reactions inside the battery making it weaker) you'll have slower cranking and weaker sparking trying to start, so make sure your distributor + coils + plugs + wires are all in good shape. Don't forget to set the choke to full rich as well.

More problems starting means more risk of flooding... careful with that.

A heater isn't a bad idea really for home. Get it warmer under the hood and you'll have more luck starting!

 

i tried starting mine today as well. it was cranking so slow, i dont think it could start. i may have flooded it as well. i guess ill find out when i dont have to shovel the snow out from around my car.

 

Got out to the car today and it was absolutely packed in snow. Not so much on the car, but around it and underneath. At this point it's just got to be frozen solid. Thanks for the help guys, I think I've just got to physically warm it up anyway I can and try not to flood it.

 

say that again ............ for what its worth , my '79 , 12A starts up well in the cold ( zero to minus 20 F ) and what it likes is full out choke and two full, slow , pumps of the gas pedal to the floor before i turn the key .... up she goes and the choke takes care of the rest for 5 minutes............. ya reallly need to find what your lady likes.

 

its an art, not a science, and i guess depends on your car - with mine stock 12a - most impo need a good battery - crank it over on full choke for 10 secs or so - stop push choke in then crank away with no choke until it fires (sputters a bit to start with) - once running pull choke out again - never touch the throttle - it works for me - live in TO and -20 degree C recently

 

I have a Mikuni Side Draft and It takes me, full choke and 3 good pumps of the pedal to get her started..I leave her on High Idle then it drops down as she warms up...Mikuni 44 FTW!