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Need BIG HELP solving cold weather starting problem


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86 Brat. Whenever the temp gets below freezing this bad boy won't start. Above 32, always starts immediately. Here's what happens. I pump the pedal twice, like always, and it will start. Runs about 15 seconds and then dies like someone clipped the gas flow. After that it will turn over, start and die immediately. It's like I burn off what was left in the bowl and then never get fuel back into the bowl. Choke, seems to be working fine. Fuel pump seems to be working but the gas seems to be lost somewhere. Is there a solenoid or something somewhere in the gas distribution system that I'm missing? Anyone ever deal with something like this before. Bad part is that this is my winter transportation and I can't even get to work without bummin rides until I solve this. NEED HELP GUYS! Any help will be truly appreciated and thank you in advance.

 

george

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Fuel filter is clean and new. The pump could be freezing. It was put into a garage bay yesterday and after half an hour it started right up. Took it back outside and after sitting in the fridgid weather it wouldn't start again. If the fuel pump is freezing up how would I correct it? New pump? I'm desperate at this pointI

Thanks for your time.

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WAG

H20 trapped in the vapor separator

(fuel filter "looking" devise under the hood

in the area of the driver's side hood hinge -three lines to it)

 

gas moves past it above freezing, below 32 deg F

gas freezes and blocks the flow

 

Replace the separator and add a couple cans of dry gas.

Good time to replace the primary fuel filter also

(under car on the "in" line of the fuel pump)

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A vapor sepaerator...........I don't know these Subies well at all, so I really appreciate the help. This very well could be. Last year I had a problem once and threw in dry gas at every other fill up. It sat most of the summer and fall, so condensation could of happened for sure. I threw in dry gas last week after I got it going once but didn't get to run the car much to get it well circulated. Went to work and when I finished for the day wouldn't start at night. What does the vapor seperator do and why is it in the system? I owe you guys!

thanks again

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Did you let the gas sit in there all summer or did you run it. Possibly you might have some varnishing but i dont knw if that woudl happen from 1 year of sitting. When i had a car in storage (backyard:grin:) i started it once a month for 4 months and let it run 20 minutes each time. Was always good to me.

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I ran it three or four times a month and took it to work a couple of days each month so it didn't just sit. It was running well this winter until we had the real cold temps move into the region a couple of weeks ago. I havn't been able to get it going since the sub 20 temps. moved in.

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Kinda a hijack, but how do you keep water out of the fuel system on a regular basis. Just those jugs of heet or whatever every time you fill up.

 

Yeah... I guess. Probably not every time.

 

Keeping the tank full in cold weather helps (less condensation on the inside of the gas tank). Also making sure that the fuel filler actually seals and such (more a problem on old stuff). I wonder if using the oxygenated gas with Ethanol helps -- most the gas sold in Colorado is E10, and I've never had problems with water in my fuel, at least in my cars. The tractor tends to get some snow inside the fuel tank when I'm filling it (pouring gas in, in blowing snow... you know...), so it gets Heet regularly just in case.

 

Z

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  • 2 weeks later...

Turns out it was the fuel pump freezing up when it was cold out. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL WHO TOOK THE TIME TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. And especially the dude abides for his concern with numerous posts and ideas. We've had so much snow in N.E. this year, I missed the little bugger when it was down.

 

take care and thanks again~

george

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