hard to start cutlass supreme
July 21st, 2008, 05:05 PM
#1
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hard to start cutlass supreme
my 72 cutlass supreme is becoming hard to start. if i pime the carb it fires right up. otherwise it takes a couple of tries to get it going. is this normal for a 36 year old car? just wondering if it might be my carb or fuel pump starting to go, or maybe i just need new plugs. i love my car but i dont know a lot about fixing it. any thoughts would be a great help before i start taking it apart.
oldman72
oldman72
July 21st, 2008, 07:53 PM
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I thought there is some kind of anti-drainback valve in the fuel filter to keep fuel in the line/ carb. I am not positive about this. I think there is also a common problem with quadrajets where the jets let fuel drain into the intake when sitting. I am pretty sure this is a fuel related problem, so you just might want to get a new fuel pump and fuel filter. If that doesnt help, you most likely will need the carb rebuilt.
July 22nd, 2008, 02:17 PM
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hard to start
i dont drive it eveyday. i would say i take it out every 2 - 3 days. it also seems to go through quite a bit of coolent, i have to add some about every month or so, is this normal? i do live in las vegas and it is over a 100 everyday in the summer. i looked at the fuel pump and it seems new, the lines have pressure to them. before i start on the fuel system i think i might just get a ignition tune up, new plugs and what not. what do you think?
oldman72.
oldman72.
July 22nd, 2008, 02:26 PM
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If you are priming the carb to get it started, the fuel system is the problem. That said, a tune can't hurt. It just won't do what you want it to in this instance. It sounds like fuel is bleeding off someplace. I'm no carb expert, but I would look there first.
July 22nd, 2008, 07:20 PM
#8
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my 72 cutlass supreme is becoming hard to start. if i pime the carb it fires right up. otherwise it takes a couple of tries to get it going. is this normal for a 36 year old car? just wondering if it might be my carb or fuel pump starting to go, or maybe i just need new plugs. i love my car but i dont know a lot about fixing it. any thoughts would be a great help before i start taking it apart.
oldman72
oldman72
Regards,
Fred
Last edited by GoodOldsGuy; July 22nd, 2008 at 07:22 PM.
July 22nd, 2008, 08:42 PM
#9
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how do you prime the carb?
losing coolant is not normal, how much coolant do you need to add and how often? does your radiator have an overflow tank or, just a tube that drains onto the ground?
does the engine seem to be running too hot?
is a warm restart after about 2 hours difficult?
is your choke working properly(even though your environment is warm)?
you should have a 704-series carb. the secondary well plugs don't leak on that series very often, but it's not impossible.
how is the high-speed at heavy throttle performance?
i'm thinking along the lines of:
fuel percolation, with overheating being the cause
weak fuel pump pressure/volume
defective choke
leaking well plugs
bill
losing coolant is not normal, how much coolant do you need to add and how often? does your radiator have an overflow tank or, just a tube that drains onto the ground?
does the engine seem to be running too hot?
is a warm restart after about 2 hours difficult?
is your choke working properly(even though your environment is warm)?
you should have a 704-series carb. the secondary well plugs don't leak on that series very often, but it's not impossible.
how is the high-speed at heavy throttle performance?
i'm thinking along the lines of:
fuel percolation, with overheating being the cause
weak fuel pump pressure/volume
defective choke
leaking well plugs
bill
July 23rd, 2008, 02:25 PM
#10
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hard to start
i have some starter spray to prime the carb. only had to do that once after it sat for a week.
it has a coolent overflow tank. i add about an inch or two of coolent once a month. there does seem to be some puddles of coolent under the overflow tank, but i cant see where it is leaking. could it be spilling out of the overflow when the car is driving. engine does not seem to be running hot, it has never overheated. However, i am worried that i might have blown a head gasket, would i absolutly see a change in how it drives if this was the case.
a warm restart after two hours is no problem.
i dont know how to adjust my choke.
at high speeds the car is great, good passing gear, lots of power.
the fuel pump looks new, i think i am going to change the fuel filter.
oldman72
it has a coolent overflow tank. i add about an inch or two of coolent once a month. there does seem to be some puddles of coolent under the overflow tank, but i cant see where it is leaking. could it be spilling out of the overflow when the car is driving. engine does not seem to be running hot, it has never overheated. However, i am worried that i might have blown a head gasket, would i absolutly see a change in how it drives if this was the case.
a warm restart after two hours is no problem.
i dont know how to adjust my choke.
at high speeds the car is great, good passing gear, lots of power.
the fuel pump looks new, i think i am going to change the fuel filter.
oldman72
July 23rd, 2008, 04:37 PM
#11
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Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio
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it has a coolent overflow tank. i add about an inch or two of coolent once a month. there does seem to be some puddles of coolent under the overflow tank, but i cant see where it is leaking. could it be spilling out of the overflow when the car is driving. engine does not seem to be running hot, it has never overheated. However, i am worried that i might have blown a head gasket, would i absolutly see a change in how it drives if this was the case.
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