My '83 LE has been having some strange starting problems lately. You can crank the motor all day, and it wont start, but you spray a little bit of starting fluid in the motor and it starts right up and runs beautifully, with no problems whatsoever. Is this a carburator problem? Why wouldnt it be getting fuel when you crank it, but it would get plenty once it was running?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

first off don't use starting fluid, it is hard on apex seals and all the engines internal components. It sounds to me that your fuel pump may not be running until you crank the engine over, therefore not pumping and pressurizing fuel until the engine is running. I was having the same problem with my 85 gsl and i just cleaned my spark plugs and pump the pedal once or twice before cranking over. Give light throttle while cranking over, then when started, hold at about 3 grand till it warms up. Now im not 100% sure i am correct with this, but i hope any info i provided can be helpful.

 

Pumping the pedal does nothing, already tried that. Why wouldnt the fuel pump work until the engine is started? Bad relay or something?

 

Hey,

I've encountered this problem twice ... first time adjusting the fuel mixture screw did the trick ... second time i had to flush out my tank to get it working properly.

 

Is the choke system working properly? Otherwise, check your timing. And WD-40 works just as well as starting fluid but without the potential damage.

 

Choke is working properly, the car did sit a long time and hasnt been run much, could it be caused by old gas?

 

Maybe it just has low compression due to sitting. You might try dumping some Marvel Mystery Oil down the carb to restore compression and free up the apex seals. Another method is to dump some SeaFoam down the carb while rotating the engine (to get it into all chambers), then let is sit for a couple of days. The object is to get the apex seals freed up and moving again.

 

you may want to also check the fuel pump and filter, pop dem lines off the carb and put them into a bucket or cup, and put the key to the on position see if you get any gas if not, you know whats wrong.

something you might want to try is see if the floats in the carb are messed up, top 4 bolts on the carb and its under that plate.

something you might want to consider because i own a 83 LE is to get rid of that damn rats nest and all that damn air pump stuff. .

 

He says the car runs fine once its started... Checking the fuel level in the float bowls might not be a bad idea though.