problem starting, need help.

[E.T.]

I have unfortunatley had my car stored for about two months and can not get it started. I did fill the tank up and put Stabil in and drove it for about an hour before I parked it in the garage. Battery is good and I am getting fuel to the carb, but it won't fire. It has a holley 760 w/electric choke. I am by no means a carb mech, but I thought there was some additive I could put in the carb to help. Any suggestions would be appreciated. It is 65 deg out and I need to go for a drive!
thanks,E.T.

[trularin]

Do the three Fs: Fuel. look down the carb and make sure you can squirt gas when the throttle is pressed. Fire. Pull the coil wire and see if you have spark by using a long screw driver and holding it about 1/8 inch from ground. Function. Does it turn over? Are the pistons moving up and down? Does it make compression.

Do the Fs in order. You may end up pulling the plugs and swapping out for a new set to get her to run.

Hope this helps.

[rocket7171]

electric chokes sometimes they like to stick. Is it closed when trying to start or open? If closed try putting a screw driver to keep choke open alittle. (just alittle)If open all the way that's your problem. I guess you can see fuel pumping into carb when you look into carb by saying it's getting fuel?
Need to check for spark. My car takes alot of cranking when it's been a while. I just keep pumping when the oil preasure comes up. I aways wait till I see gauge move. Don't want to dry fire cylinders.
tom

[E.T.]

I have to check for spark when I get a chance. The two barrels on the carb (I assume the primary excuse my ignorance) are completley open and the rear two are completley closed (it is a holley 760 street avenger)I am defin, getting fuel in the front two. I was worried that I was flooding it, I may be way off.... It is turning over very well just not fireing.

[RedBarchetta]

Another easy test for spark is to use a spare spark plug. Remove one of the wires at the cylinder head, insert the spare spark plug, and ground the plug against the exhaust header, the engine block or the frame. When you have a friend crank the engine, it should be obvious whether or not you are getting a spark to the plugs. If yes, then maybe take a little lead out of the distributor timing. If no, check the coil and wiring upstream from the plugs.

-Dean

[rocket7171]

You may want to check for spark 1st but I think you just need to pump it good. It has taken me 15-20 pumps while cranking when the car sits for a month or so. Thats only good enough for it to try to start. another 5-10 to get it to run. after that no problems.........
tom

[ROUSHAC]

E.T.

I agree with rocket7171. I couldn't believe how many times I had to pump the accelerator to get it to start after it sat for a month. Thought for sure that I had flooded it, but I gave it some more pumps and then it started right up.

(PS - Pretty obvious, but you DID turn the fuel pump on, right?)

Good luck!

Dave

[pbarker]

vmvmvmvmvm

[DonC]

If everything else checks out try some starter fluid. Can be found at most parts outlets. Mostly carbon tet but just might get everything moving.
DonC

[E.T.]

Pulled the coil wire and tested for spark by using a screw driver and held close to the block and then the sterring shaft, No spark aparent. i looked at the fuse panel to check the fuse for the ignition and could not find one, only for starter and the fuel pump and the chock.am I overlooking something? I have not changed the plugs yet because I want to fix the spark problem first. But I am sure I have glazed the plugs or whatever by now with all the gas I have pumped into it. Is there a fuse for the ignition and were is it?

[E.T.]

I have checked the coil for power with a test light and I am not getting anything, and none to the distributer. (I did make sure the test light is working first). I also looked over the connections to the box and found everything looks fine. I am not sure what to check now?

[rocket7171]

Double check your spark 1st. Pull a plug and while holding the plug end to block have someone crank it over. Hold the boot just in case.
There must be a fuse somewhere. My book shows that the gauge fuse is involved with msd. Check this. also look at msd box. Is there a reset to push or fuse?
let me know.
tom

[Rwillia4]

What type of ignition are you using? MSD-6 ignition will not register power at the coil. the best way to check with a MSD ignition is to remove the lead wire from the coil to the distributor stick in a spark plug and gound it. See if you get spark. Again you won't read any voltage at the coil.
Do you have a resistor in line to the coil? check it for continuity. sometimes they burn out.

[rocket7171]

Why don't I have spark? In most cases, it is usually due to a bad ground or no ground at all. Check all connections. Here are a few things you could check: make sure the ground wire is securely attached; that there is no paint under the ground wire; the connectors have good secure connections; there are no breaks in the wires; the battery is fully charged. Check for a bad on/off switch to the ignition box. You could have a bad coil, and switching it out for a coil that you know is good is the fastest way to determine whether a coil is the culprit. Perhaps you have a bad triggering device. Check it by removing the spark plugs (leaving the spark plug wires on), and grounding them to the engine. Next: clip the two green trigger wires coming out of the engine, and repeatedly touch the 2 wires going to the ignition box together. Make sure the power to your ignition is on. You should get a spark, or the L.E.D. (if equipped on your MSD box) should light. If you get a spark, then the trigger is bad. If the L.E.D. light turns on and there is no spark - then either you have a bad coil, a bad spark plug wire(s), or a bad spark plug(s). Check your large red wire to msd box. This should be hot all the time. The small red to the box should be hot only with key on.
Call me if I can help. 609 410 1774 after 11:00 am.
tom

[E.T.]

I don't think there is a resistor in line to the coil. I followed the wires to the MSD box and nothing. When I checked the power to the coil I placed the test light on the Positive connection on the top of the coil with the other end of the test light clamped to the block. and I tried the negative side as well. I had the key in the on position but did not crank it. Should I repeat this and try cranking it? The box is a MSD,I don't no if it is a MSD-6 or what though.

[rocket7171]

1st thing check wires going to msd box. Large red should be hot all the time with battery. Small red should be hot with key on. Use a good ground with both tests. There's nothing in wire diagram that shows any fuse for the msd box or anywhere these wires come from that power the unit.
tom

[Rwillia4]

If your ignition is a red MSD box it is probably a 6 or 6## type box and they act the same. You will NOT read any voltage on the coil with a MSD box installed!! The MSD box pulses the coil with power when it wants it to fire. One of my multimeters picks it up sporaticaly, the other multimeter does not.

To see if the coil and MSD box are working correctly, there is a white wire (18awg) coming out of the box, this is the points wire. When it gounds it will fire the coil. The easiest way to test if you system is working downrange of the ignition box is to:
-Disconnect the wire going from the main wire going from the coil to the distributor (on the distributor side)
-Plugin a old sparkplug into the end of this wire
-Place the outside of the sparkplug so that it is touching the engine block (preferably not near the carb)
-Touch the white wire to ground and watch to see if you have spark.

If you have spark then your problem is not in the coil or the MSD box.
If you don't have spark the you problem is in the coil or box... I would replace the coil first.

[E.T.]

Thanks for all the help! It turned out to be a bad pick up. Also the plugs were shot..... she's running great now, just in time for some great weather and cruises! Happy days....