I just bought a 1982 GSL. Car looks brand new, but the engine wouldn't run without the choke on and the exhaust smelled very rich. I rebuilt the Nikki and it ran better, but I figured out that it will run with the idle compensator hose plugged. But if the compensator connected, it still dies without choke. I don't mind keeping the idle compensator permanently plugged, but I'd rather fix the cause. Any ideas?

Oh - with no load, it idles around 1200. With AC on and radion etc on - it idle back down around 800.

Thank you for your help.

 

So I drove it a little in the neighborhood tonight. It drove ok, but the brake light went back out (I think it's just in the switch), the steering has a lot of play, the suspension is making a helluva racket, and the highbeams don't work. Ha - got my work cut out for me.

When I pulled back up to the house, it started idling really really low, so the carb still isn't right. I just cut it off. Also, before I left, I had to choke it to start and with the choke out, the RPMs can get up almost to 6k. This can't be right. I know it's a high reving car, but... other cars don't choke to 85% of the redline.

 

Really? No one? I have done all the reading. I have read David Lane's article. I have read countless forum posts. FSM. Haynes. I'm going to start really looking at the rat's nest, but someone must have seen this issue before....

 

Ok, so I noticed that when I have the hose to the compensator pulled and try to crank the car, white smoke comes out. So then I removed the air filter, etc. - same thing there. The engine was rebuilt just 6k miles ago. I've read that it COULD be a leaking seal and that's antifreeze coming into the engine. The engine smells like it's just running very rich, but ... is there any way to tell for certain? i'm going to replace the plugs (they are very dark) and check the spark as well as make sure it's wires in the correct order (make sure leading and trailing coil wires haven't been mixed.) Anything else?

 

One more thing - the engine was a Mazda factory rebuilt engine. It was installed in 2007, but only 6k miles have been put on it. Thankfully the lady kept meticulous records.

I would guess a factory rebuilt engine could be trusted to have been done correctly... would that be a fair assumption?

 

Oh - and when I had the air cleaner off and could see inside the carb, when i cut the car off, gas kept pouring into the venturis. The float level should be fine (I need to get a mirror to check the back one, but I set them them exactly the same when I did the rebuild and the front one is perfect.

I know the spark plugs need replacing. Not sure about the wires but might anyway. But I guess I'm going to start working on the mixture. Someone on here said don't mess with it unless you have to, but I'm starting to think that's my best option at this point.

 

I noticed last night that with the key on (and the fuel pump working) gas was just flowing into the chambers. So... I've repulled the carb. I guess I'll try to smooth out the needles (as I read was suggested.) I also bought some new plugs and wires - just to get that out of the way. I checked the spark and it looks to be ok, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to replace them anyway.

So the car should be thoroughly flooded at this point. I read something about un-flooding this car can't be done by waiting. You have to pour ATF in it? That sounds crazy to me. Can anyone back this up - and hopefully ensure me this is an ok thing to do. I'm really not sure I feel comfortable with this.

 

And so I rechecked the floats and they measure the correct height. I checked the needles and they seems to be very free to move - no catching. I'm starting to think nothing is wrong with the carburetor. Considering that nothing changed after the rebuild.... I notice that the fuel pump makes a pretty loud clicking sound when the ignition is on and the previous owner had it replaced in 06 (and never really drove it again.) Maybe I should look into that. I'm also considering replacing the intake manifold, since I already have the carb off. Any other suggestions? All I'm gettin is crickets so far... Sure could use a little help over here.