PUNISHER VETTE

So I've only had my 69 since March of 2010 and have had it started at least weekly since i've owned it. As of November it hasn't been started and now I need to get it running to move it and I don't know how to handle cold start?

Usually if I didn't drive it for a week it would take a little while to fire up with me giving it some gas.

Seems like it smells like I'm flooding it but the carbs look dry in the 3 areas i can open the butterfly and look into...
I have the dash partly apart(center cluster and passenger side pad)
Didn't know if those needed to be in to function?

I guess I need to look at the plugs and see what's going on...

northern77

I would pull the air filter and dump about 2 ounces of fuel in the carb and it should fire up.

PUNISHER VETTE

I haven't done my carb rebuild yet so what part of the carb should I be dumping it into?


the front chamber or the two rear chamber?

northern77

Front

PUNISHER VETTE

I tried the gas and it didn't work.

I guess I'll need to check the plugs and see what else I can do for it...

noonie

HEI's really shine in very cold weather.


Your carb may just be empty, crank until you can get fuel with the accelerator pump on carb and then make sure choke plate is closed or have someone hold their hand over the horn as necessary while cranking and until warm enough to run on it's own.

May want to check for spark too.

Mike Ward

Winter starting instructions are well laid out in the owners manual. If your car still won't start, there's a problem most likely with choke adjustment or fuel delivery.

PUNISHER VETTE

So with the gas smell is that just because it's not starting while still trying to turn over. Or is that because I'm actually flooding it?

I'd hate to pour more gas into the carbs when they're already flooded...

BKbroiler

How many carburetors are you talking about? In any case, one of them should be equipped with a functioning choke. If not, that might explain your difficulties.

PUNISHER VETTE

I'm pretty sure the choke works as even in the summer it'll have higher RPM's for the first 5mins of driving before it finally comes down...

PUNISHER VETTE

Well if I didn't know any better I'm not getting spark.
I took a plug out, grounded it to the block and turned it over and didn't seem to get anything.


Best place to check to figure out why?


Only thing i did with the engine this winter was the PO had put a kill switch in that I took out. It was just 1 wire coming off the neg. terminal of the coil to a switch. Not even sure how it actually worked since I don't believe it was interrupting the ground at all. It seemed like it was just an extra leg in the system that didn't need to be there.

Vette5.5

As mentioned, a functional choke is essential. Also, since you've got some wiring apart, maybe pick up a cheap spark tester to make sure the plug's are getting something. A can of starting fluid(ether) wouldn't hurt either. When getting it started, make sure you bring it up to operarating temperature's before storing, to avoid trapping combustion moisture. Also, since the fuel's getting a bit stale, probably a good idea to syphon it out and put in some fresh stuff. Just use up the old stuff a few gallon's at a time in your daily car's.

PUNISHER VETTE

Okay. I got it started. Turns out there were two different wires that came off the negative terminal of the coil. I only had the one connected and when I saw that it started right up.


Only problem is now I have another issue to deal with that popped up. Something is wrong with my shifter/manual trans.

Reverse=can't get it into
Neutral=reverse
1,2,3,4= it just wants to stall.


I think I'll start another thread about this as I have a feeling it's an entirely different problem that I'll need help on.

Vette5.5

Boy, sound's like you're having all kind's of fun over there. Obviously you've got some transmission linkage problem's, and sound's like it's trying to shift into two gear's at the same time. Linkage inspection is a good place to start, as something may have come loose. Get a second person to run the shifter, while you watch what's going on underneath.

PUNISHER VETTE

that's not the half of it.

My previously functioning headlights no longer pop up, so i'll have to trouble shoot the vacuum system when I get settled in to my new place.

Although on a more positive side I did get the interior lights to work. I had a bad coil in the rheostat that I just soldered to a solid on/off switch.

I just feel stupid that I didn't spot the ignition problem before going through asking all these easy questions about it.

Oldguard 7

No harm, no foul... we all overlook things. Betcha I got more issues with my vette (79)than you. You have my favorite model year vette.