barak181 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Hi all! I just found this site, it is awesome! Now, please bear with me if I ask some stupid questions throughout - while I am mechanically inclined, I don't have much experience. I have a 1988 GL Hatchback 4WD. (From what I gather on the site that means an EA-81 engine.) I bought it this past spring. I've had a repair shop do some work and I've done some myself. I'm inclined to do more myself to keep the repair bills from piling too high... Anway. Since the temperature has started to drop it has become an absolute beast to start. It takes at least 5 min of cranking to get it to turn over. Sometimes 10 min. Then another 5-10 of restarting to get it to idle without stalling. Then it will usually stall when I try to leave the first intersection I stop at. Once it warms up, it runs great. I tried adding an additive to the fuel to absorb any moisture that may be in the lines. Any ideas or suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellow65 Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Ahhh the beauty of carb. sounds maybe like your choke is not working properly does it just die when you take your foot off when it's cold, like you have to keep it running with the throttle till it warms up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barak181 Posted December 22, 2006 Author Share Posted December 22, 2006 The first few times that it starts it'll die right away. (I pump the gas a few times before I turn the key then start it without my foot on the gas.) Then when it does turn over I'll pump the gas and rev it fairly high. Then it settles into a low/rough idle. If I press the gas again after it settles into the idle, it'll stall. This gets repeated a few times until it idles normally. If I have time after all of this, I'll let it idle to warm up. Otherwise, I'll hit the road and hope that I don't piss people off too much stalling at that first intersection. Like I said, once it's warm it's all good. Like if I have to go to the store or something: Starting up at home is a beast but starting up again when I'm leaving the store is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellow65 Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 that sounds like my weber that had a busted choke. look into the choke system, that whole system normally controls your cold idle just have some one start the car and you under the hood looking at the choke, it should be closed or pretty damn close when it is cold and starting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy D Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 yeah the choke and u might have a mild vacuum leak thats not helping things either (i got a really bad one rite now and im about ready to blow it the hell up) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barak181 Posted December 22, 2006 Author Share Posted December 22, 2006 Well, you were absolutely right. The choke is shot. I might have to go to the mechanic for this one...althought I am toying with the idea with getting a carb from the local junkyard and seeing what I can do myself. BTW, I couldn't find a vacuum leak so I'm going with the idea that the choke is the root of all evil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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