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| Cold weather and engine won't run https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38204 |
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| Author: | Solotime [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 5:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | Cold weather and engine won't run |
Basically as the Subject line says, the slant in my 1981 Dodge truck will not keep running the last 2 mornings when the temp was in the low 20's or colder. This morning it was 11 degrees. The truck starts right up, runs for maybe 10 seconds at high idle then quickly dies. Second attempt might fire a couple times but won't start, then anything after that the truck won't even fire. Gas smell from exhaust seems to indicate it is getting plenty of gas. It did this yesterday so when I got back home in the afternoon I tried to start it and it fired right up and ran fine. No problems on previous days that were in the low to mid 30's. The engine is a recent overhual, 6 to 8,000 miles ago and a new carb was installed at that time. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. Edwin |
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| Author: | 00spy [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Your choke might need to be adjusted. Dave |
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Describe the "new carb" -- is it actually new, or is it a "remanufactured" item? If you've got a heavy gas smell, it sounds like the choke pull-off is not functioning, so the engine's flooding out. |
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| Author: | Solotime [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:50 am ] |
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The carb was new....I got the carb from you Dan so maybe you would know for sure. My first thought was the choke pulloff but I just could not wrap my head around why it would be that dramatically different between mid 30's and teen or 20's as far as temperature. I also pulled the air cleaner and the butterfly is not closed. I would estimate it to be at least 50% or more open. |
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:15 pm ] |
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Quote: The carb was new....I got the carb from you Dan so maybe you would know for sure.
OK, remind me which carb it is and I might have some more concrete ideas.Quote: I also pulled the air cleaner and the butterfly is not closed. I would estimate it to be at least 50% or more open.
That sounds like a clue. When the engine's cold, before starting it, press the accelerator all the way down and then release it. Then go look under the hood: the choke should be all the way closed. If not, then the choke thermostat and its pushrod need to be inspected for proper configuration, mounting, hookup, and adjustment.
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| Author: | Fopar [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:54 pm ] |
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How about carb icing ?? If it is the cold air coming in a very small opening around the throttle plate it could build ice there, try opening the throttle a bit more when it is running until the motor builds more heat. |
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| Author: | Solotime [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:30 pm ] |
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OK...I checked the butterfly like you said after pushing the pedal to the floor. It was closed. It is 32 degrees here and she started up and is running fine. I can go out in the morning and do the same thing and she will not run for more than 10 seconds as it will be like 15 degrees. |
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| Author: | Reed [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Go through the carb and make sure everything is adjusted properly. Make sure the choke is closing when cold, that the fast idle cam is being put under the fast idle screw when cold, that the fast idle screw makes the engine idle at 12-1400 RPM, that the choke pulloff doesn't pull the choke all the way off, and that there aren't any vacuum leaks anywhere. |
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| Author: | sandy in BC [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Choke adjustment is a seasonal thing where I live....and I bet it is in Kansas too. The sooner you learn to adjust that choke the better its going to work out. You will need to adjust it back in the spring...... |
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| Author: | Doc [ Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:10 pm ] |
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Have you read this article? http://www.slantsix.org/articles/choke- ... adjust.htm DD |
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| Author: | Solotime [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:47 am ] |
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Read the article, including info from other threads. Everything appears perfectly normal. Tried it again this morning. Pumped the throttle once. The plate was fully closed. Started the engine. The chocke pull off pulled the plate open about 1/4 inch. Engine running at I would guess about 2,000 rpm. Ran smoothly for 10 to 15 seconds then abruptly died. Started the same procedure over again but the engine instead of starting right up just fires or "hits" a few times then goes to just cranking with no firing and you can smell the gas again coming from the exhaust. Nothing I do after this point will get the engine to fire ie holding the pedal to the floor, leaving it at idle, pumping the pedal..nothing. Keep in mind, and what I can't understand is why this is only a problem when the temperature is below freezing. 22 this morning and the above happens. 32 yesterday afternoon and she started and ran fine. |
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| Author: | adiffrentcity [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:03 am ] |
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When the engine dies is the throttle still on the fast idle setting or does it "jump down" to the low idle setting? |
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| Author: | Solotime [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:13 am ] |
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Still on the fast idle...absolutely nothing moves on the carb prior to it dying. |
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| Author: | adiffrentcity [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:24 am ] |
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The magic number being 32 degrees keeps taking me back to carb icing, or maybe icing at the jet b/c of water in the line... And yet you have gas in the exhaust and the truck will sputter after it dies. How could temperature so low affect spark? Maybe its in your electronics? |
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:59 am ] |
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Yup, time to do some basic checks: Once the engine will no longer run, do you have a spark? Pull one of the spark plug wires off its spark plug, stick a screwdriver in the end, hold the screwdriver handle so the screwdriver shaft is about 1/4" away from something metal, and crank the engine (or have a helper crank the engine). If you crank the engine from under the hood, make sure the ignition switch is turned on or you definitely won't have a spark. (Still waiting on a reminder of what exact carb this is) |
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