TheOnesAndTwos

So the story goes. I bought this 85 SE (12A) in September...with the intentions of making it my summer car. So Since I bought it it's been parked in the garage, every couple of days I go out and I start it and let it idle high (full choke) for a bit. Today I went out to do that very thing, but it wouldn't start, I tried long enough for the battery to now need to be charged. (But I did think about flooding and stopped trying for about 20 minutes at one point to let it unflood). Now it's always a bit hard to start, takes a couple of trys and some serious pedal pumping...but it's never not started. The engine is brand new with under 10000 on it. It's never been winter driven, so I'm assuming the carbs not adjusted for such. When I bought the car the guy did give me a can of quik start. I've never used it though (except for tonight when it didn't help). I'm looking for suggestions as to why it won't start and even something to make it start on the first or second go usually. I assume this is a cold start problem as it has gotten considerably colder here of late (All those from the Greater Toronto Aera know what I mean)

Anyway Any help would be great. Thanks,

Brendan

Kentetsu

Sometimes running a cold engine at full choke will be too strong a mixture, and will foul the plugs. This is what works for me on the coldest of days: two pumps of the gas, choke at 1/2, turn key. Works every time for me. If you are still having problems, check your timing. Hope this helps...

SparkienSuggah

i concur, if you're idleing it at full choke, you may be fouling the plugs.. go drive the **** outta it down the 401 (like reall,y drive the **** outta it, good hard accel to superheat the sticky carbon) and check your plug wire resistances. service limit should be around 3 or 4k.

if that dont help, maybe the gas is going foul from sitting.. do you have a vapour leak? i swear old gas turns into bacardi rum mixed with diesel when it sits long enough.

edit: 20 min isnt enough to unflood the motor.. either pull start it (Ford Windstars are good for this, if not much else...) or pull the plugs and clean em and turn the motor over and blah blah blah... just pull start it.

Paradox

iTrader: (1)

try adjusting your choke. i have the same prob with the holley now that its getting cold. i have to manually turn it on/off almost every morning when i start it up.

i forget how the choke works on the nikki, perhaps only opening the choke button a bit will help. on my holley i just flip up the choke mechanism with my finger when its cold, and if it wont start i flip it back down or half-way. adjusting it seems to not work so well.. (choke is screwed) but in your case that could very well be the problem.

g'luck

TheOnesAndTwos

Thanks for the info...I'll check the plugs.

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

If you are starting the car but not allowing it to get fully hot before you stop it, the engine can fill up with condensation also, I bought a non running rotary once that had the same symptoms, took it home, removed the plugs, turned over the engine and dumped out the water, and she started up fine and ran for years without a problem. Same cure as a flooded engine.

DJAngelicon

I just advance my timing and it works best for this kind of weather. If is cold, a good tune-up and a good advance timing setup will do the trick.

TheOnesAndTwos

You use a timing light, or just do it by ear?

drugblock12a

iTrader: (7)

no thread jack intended, but i can't start mine with the choke out. i have to start it with two pumps on the gas, and one when i hear it start. then i have to pull the choke works everytime runs like a champ.........