I have been searching the board and it seems to point to the starter.

1980 Stock the engine is a reman and was replaced in 2003 with the flywheel

Here is my problem its in winter storage surrounded by boats and RVs, so I cant jack up the car and the storage owner don’t want no-one working on there stuff while its there.

When trying to start the 7. It will crank but it won’t turn over. And then every now and then I get a grinding sound. The engine started twice yesterday but it was really struggling to stay running would only go up to 1k RPMs then would stall (lasted about 2secs). I can’t get it to turn over today. It has been 8 degrees for the past couple of days, if that might have something to do with it. I’m trying to get the guy to move a boat so I can push it out and get it towed to my mechanic (the only one I trust) . And I can’t work on it in 8 degree weather especially at the storage unit it would still need to be towed.

Sorry forgot to say in the storage contract states the vehicle must be in running condition just incase it needs to be moved (so it needs to be fixed).

Anything I should check? The battery is good. Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
I have been starting it every 2 weeks to keep everything safe and had no problems up until now.

What would you do?

Thanks
Chris

 

Sounds like the choke is not engaging or engaging all the way. Check that 1st.

If it is that cold the choke will have to be at its prime.

If you get it started can you rev it up to keep it going??

I think the grinding is just the starter grinding on the fly-wheel b/c if the flywheel is spinning(even just a little) and you run the starter the teeth will grind on each other.

 

hmmm i don't know he said that when it does start is only stay's idled for a few seconds... But i will agree with you on that starting making contact with the flywheel will make a grinding noise... Now the car not staying on as to do with couple of things...the cold start is not working properly...so the next time you get it started try and just stay on the gas for a few while it warms up then let the pedal go and see it it's idles without using the cold start throttle thingy... It just might be too cold out there for the choke to work properly...

Was the car running before or during the time you put in storage? How long has it been sitting in storage?

 

When I got it to start for the first couple of seconds I hit the gas and nothing would happen.

It has been running fine until now. I would start it every other week and it would only take a few trys.

 

how about the fuel pump? is that working properly or if at all? fuel filters, so on and so forth

 

What would be a good way to check the choke?
The fuel pump is working you can hear it. So you know it's not the fuse either, and the fuel filter just got replaced this last fall.

 

It's just too cold.. move south.

Do the starter first don't do anything with the fuel system. Have you checked your coolant to make sure it's ok?

Is your fuel good? You put stabil in it?

 

Try a carb cleaner.

Also try starting fluid. Sometimes it wants it and sometimes it doesn't. But an arescol can like "carb docter" or something will get your carb straitened out.

You will know if the choke is working properly or not b/c the flap that covers the driver side barrels will close them off. If it doesnt close them off all the way you can push it with your fingers and it should work for one start.

 

Yah choke is working.
Tried starting fluid.
Have stable in the tank.
I have to check coolant I think the one closest to the passenger is low

The only time I hear grinding is when I try to start like five times in a row.

Anything else I should check (tomorrow is going to be a little warmer so I’ll try to start it again)

 

some how some way fuel is not gettting fed to the carb...to keep the car running. But those flaps need to open so the car can run at 2500 or so for warm up

 

Floats are fine and the jets are spraying fuel

 

She just cranks and don’t want to turn over

 

Timing mabie....?

 

Maybe…its just weird one week its working fine the next its not starting.

I’m going to try it again tomorrow and see what happens.

Maybe it just too cold.

 

you know what im going to change my mind and just think it's too cold

 

Thanks for the input guys. Tomorrow I try it again.

Is there any tricks you guys recommend?

 

try a capful of ATF down the carb before you start. then pump gas 3 times and hold to the floor then crank the vehicle. should fire right up. good luck. bring a space heater to keep from having frostbite. lol good luck.

 

Don't push it if you don't have to. Old cars get personalities.

It was not a "click click" but a whrrrr type of grind right?

 

Mabie the Battery isnt giving enough juice to turn the starter fast enough.

Try bringing another one that you know is good with you and try it.

 

1. Try a cap of Seafoam down the carb rather than ATF if you think it might be flooded.

2. Replace your battery cables and put the battery on a charger. Extreme cold will cause a battery to put out less than adequate voltage. Low voltage to the starter can cause it to partially engage the flywheel, which results in the grinding sound.

3. Make sure that the starter is securely mounted, and there are no loose bolts.

4. If it only stays running for a couple of seconds, maybe the fuel pump is not running? Make sure you have spark on the trailing ignition, since the fuel pump is tied in with the secondary ignition system. This is only the case in '83 on up cars, but not sure how your car may have been modified.

5. Might as well verify that all fuses and fusible links are good.

 

I’m currently running seafoam in the gas. I’ll get another can and run some down the carb.

Took out the leading spark plugs and they seemed dry. And then I manually turned over the engine. Then I hooked up the battery again(sounded better but battery was starting to get low from all the use)

The fusible links are replaced with the large plastic fuse terminals (I think that’s what they are called)

Everything is stock, still has rats nest

I can hear the fuel pump running and the carb is getting an ample supply of gas (checked jets)

I’m at a stalemate now since the battery is charging.

 

If it ran good before you stored it, then its probably just flooded. Get a good charge on that battery and dump a couple caps full of seafoam down the carb and she'll probably start right up. There will, however, be tons of white smoke while the seafoam burns off, so move it outside before you do this (or at least make sure the owner of the storage place ain't around).

 

/\ /\
Thanks I already feel bad for the RV owners (every thing smells like gas when I’m done running it). The 7 all ready fills the pole barn with smoke.

 

Dude don't go pouring seafoam in the carb. You need to eliminate the starter and battery systems FIRST. You already said it's in the gas why pour in more when you don't know if it's gonna start. They have to be driven HARD for an hour or 2-3 after you do the pour down.

 

We were working with the assumption that the engine is flooded. And I specified that he should get a good charge on the battery. I also said that "if the car ran good before it was stored, then it is probably just flooded".

So, with a good charge on the battery, and a bit of seafoam down the throat, she should fire right up if flooded.

Seafoam works great for starting flooded rotaries, and i don't know where you get your information about the "need" to drive the car hard for a couple of hours after adding seafoam....