Back in June, my car died during a small trip, got it towed to my mechanic : need new coils. Fine, let's put new ones. "by the way", he said, "your battery is on its way out." Fine, let's put a new one.
I was away for some time so I didn't use the car. 2 weeks ago, when I tried to start it, it gave me a hard time : I pumped, and pumped, and pumped some more, the charge was there but it would stall instantly, even backfire. Then after further pumping, it would finally start but I would need to keep my foot on the gas pedal as the choke would not engage.
at first, I thought there is an issue with the carburetor, a quadjet, or the choke but I noticed one of the belt has turned 90 degrees sideway. Would that be the cause?
Once the car is warmed, it runs fine and restart without problem... usually!

Any thoughts would be welcome.
Thanks

 

A stretched ( flipped belt) would be a charging issue for the battery. Other than that a choke or fuel issues sound more like the culprit for pumping to start the car. Check fuel pump, lines, tank/sock and filter to be sure.

Hope this helps
Eric

 

Thanks Eric.
I will change the belt for sure.
However I can see (and smell) gas going into the carb when I pump manually from the engine. So it seems to me the choke may be the issue.
Still it takes a while for the engine to fire up...

 

I suppose you could open the butterfly at the carb, stick a screwdriver in to hold it open when starting it. Feather the gas pedal to keep it running. If this works then you nailed it down to the choke.

Eric

 

hmmm, if it is, then what can I do : clean it? replace it? adjust it?
It did close when I first give gas but I do need to feather the pedal until the engine has warmed up...

 

You can replace it, the spring inside the choke stat sounds like the problem. You can loosen the 3 screws and try to adjust it when the engine is cold. You want to set the butterfly open about 1/8 of an inch then tighten the screws. Or turn the stat until the butterfly is wide open tighten the screws and feather the gas pedal each time until you get a new one.

Eric

 

It could be the choke pull off diaphragm has bought the farm. This device works off of engine vacuum and pulls the choke butterfly open slightly to lean the air fuel mixture out after a cold start. This is to prevent the the engine from loading up from a over rich mixture. I can't remember if q jets have a vac line going to the diaphragm, but if it does you can test it with a vacuum pump. Another way is to pull off the vac line and push the diaphragm linkage in and cover the vac nipple with your finger. If the diaphragm doesn't come all the way back out until you remove your finger it is still good. Just something else to look at as this will cause stalling after cold start also.

 

Could it be just an airlock issue in the fuel line?
Any thoughts?
thanks

 

What happens when you go to start it cold following this procedure. Push the gas pedal 1/2 way down to the floor, does the choke set? If the choke sets, then turn the key to start... how long time wise does it take to fire.

 

yes the choke sets.
It may take a few tries and pumping each time before it starts... but it starts.
It's the stalling while driving which is more concerning. Also even if I can restart the car, the distance and timing between the next stall decrease, then it won't start at all.

 

And when it won't start at all, is there spark? Is there fuel in the carburetor?

- Eric

 

Eric,
Not sure about the spark but yes there was fuel in the carb.

In any case, the garage said they fixed the issue : a vaccum leak and an exhaust leak were the main causes. They changed one belt, adjusted the timing belt and a couple other tunings.

Next spring, he mentioned it could be a good thing to rebuild the carb.

So I will get the car back tomorrow, they want to keep it overnight to do a cold start in the morning.

 

An exhaust leak will not cause running problems, and your car doesn't have a timing belt.

Replace mechanic.

- Eric

 

As Eric said, find another mechanic. Your engine does not have a timing belt so if they really told you that you are being taken for a ride.

 

And I'd be curious as to how one would adjust one?

 

Thank s for all your comment.

The timing belt comment was my mistake.
They did replace the fan belt, the header gaskets and the carb base plate gasket.
What they adjusted was the carb and also the choke.
I picked the car up this morning and it had a much smoother ride than before... and no stalling so far

 

Good to hear its running much better.

Eric

 

Thats a better explanation, hope its cured.