does this sound like carb problems?

Hi all

A couple of days the car suddenly started running bad, v poor tickover so if no throttle it would die, although misfiring all the way up the revband, seemed to clear if i buried the throttle totally. v strong smell of petrol

Next day i fired it up, perfect........but after a couple of miles the same.

Tried today, perfect........but a couple of miles later same thing, the first tme i took my foot off the throttle it cut out, i had to do the journey with a lot of left foot braking and heel and toe. If i bury the throttle it misses and it feels like lack of fuel although i know thats not always the case.

Now i remember something simular some years ago with a FSO, on inspection of the SU carb i found the tiniest spec of dirt, once removed it ran ok.

This car is fitted wtih 2x sidedraught Solex carbs. Haynes manual isnt too helpful to where to check for dirt. the fuel filter is new, but the petrol tank was low before i refilled it. I never use the choke as it wasnt set right by the previous owner, i did pull the choke (as this helped with the FSO prob to get me home) but it cut out instantly

Its guzzling gas like a alco drinks cider..........

this morning when it was fine at tickover i removed each ht lead and noticed the revs drop so i dont think its a plug or lead. Its doing a couple of miles first thats ok then the problem thats throwing me

Anyone got any thoughts? i know its really a case of being in the car and feeling it to get a good sense.

ta

Reply to
Julian 'Penny for the guy' Hales
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I dont think its a coil problem, but maybe? i just went out to try it after its been stood for a few hours and its misfireing straight away. Im fitting the coil off the other car tomorrow.

Reply to
Julian 'Penny for the guy' Hales

Look for broken spring on advance weights, jammed vac advance or leak on vac pipe.

Reply to
Peter Hill

"Julian 'Penny for the guy' Hales" wrote in message news:hrE%d.112111$ snipped-for-privacy@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

I would look very hard at all ignition system before touching the carbs.

Reply to
mrcheerful

If it starts OK even though you never pull the choke, that indicates the choke is sticking on.

Guzzling gas, indicates choke sticking on.

Runs fine when cold, then starts playing up, indicates choke sticking on.

Spot the pattern? ;-)

Reply to
SimonJ

Had a Celeste GTO with twin Solex twin chokes which also did this occasionally. Definitely worth checking the choke operation.

Also had the float valves stick open in both carbs causing flooding and the air bypass tubes seemed to get clogged regularly as well - though that was possibly my fault for running poor filtration ;)

Lee

Reply to
Lee

I tried it today and it was fine for 2 miles, then missfiring and bad tickover again, got home, took the plugs out which i changed a couple of months ago and where very badly carbonated, i had changed over the coil too. I changed the dizzy top as i was due to do that this week.

I took it once round the block as was fine then started doing it again, i got a smell of petrol. It soons cuts out if no throttle is applied.

Somone said it could be a small jet, but im not sure on in the Haynes what to check, never worked on these carbs or hardy any ever.

thanks

Reply to
Julian 'Penny for the guy' Hales

Ah things im not up on, only once in 20 years had to play with a carb and it was a SU

I spent a good hour looking for broken pipes or things that didnt seem right, all looked ok, although i know that doesnt mean much!

Reply to
Julian 'Penny for the guy' Hales

"Julian 'Penny for the guy' Hales" wrote in message news:xoh0e.124499$ snipped-for-privacy@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

if there was a blocked jet then there would be weakness and a lack of petrol/smell, you have a petrol smell. If the engine isn't running on a cylinder or two then neat petrol gets chucked out and gives you a smell, likewise a leaking /overfull carb can give your problems, but unless touched, carbs from Japan work forever.

since it is ok till hot then that points to something getting hot and breaking down. be logical, if the plugs are old or cheapo then put a new set of ngk in, check the ht leads carefully or replace, the cap is new, is the rotor arm also new? is the coil the right one? is there any dodgy electrical connection in the ign circuit? hotwire to see if the problem goes, lastly you need to change the distributor (I assume it is electronic ign?) if points/condenser then just replace them anyway.

mrcheerful

Reply to
mrcheerful

Not in the Carb in the Distributor where all the spark plugs leads come from. The vac pipe goes from carb or manifold to vacuum capsule on side of distributor.

Be very careful of so called professionals. At least 3 people I know of in the motor trade would start off by messing up your carb mixture and choke settings to mask the fault instead of finding and fixing it. EFi has put paid to such idiots messing with carbs, now they just go straight for an ECU swap.

Reply to
Peter Hill

I wonderd if it was a tiny spec of dirt, but then the problem only starts after a few miles and warm.

I cant afford a set of leads at present, i tried getting a set some tme ago but each time i was given the wrong set even with correct code #, it turns out the leads are long and deep with a cap that fits on top of rocker cover,IIRC about £60, or not far off.

the cap is new, is

Right arm and cap, arm was replaced a couple of months ago.

The wiring is a mish mash from previous owner..........

Reply to
Julian 'Penny for the guy' Hales

Ah that one, will take a look in daylight

I thought if i had some spare cash, or any cash at all to pop it on a machine, its hard to explain how it feels but im hoping its electrical.

Reply to
Julian 'Penny for the guy' Hales

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