Car does not start after sitting a few days. Fuel pump?

Discussion in 'Wrenchin' Secrets' started by garybuick, Feb 28, 2016.

  1. My3Buicks

    My3Buicks Buick Guru

    You mean they are actually supposed to start by just hitting the starter and pumping the pedal after sitting for an extended period without putting a little gas in the carb? Who knew - My 67 has done that for 30 years and I chased the problem for years and finally accepted it as the Buick being pissed for letting it sit to long. That said, it is the only one of 36 that has done that.
     
  2. jalopi42

    jalopi42 Don't Wait

    i'm surprised nobody has mentioned the needle seat and how a solid seat aids in fuel bowl leakage ,,according to cliff ruggles book
     
  3. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    a solid seat aids in fuel bowl leakage. I dont get what you mean.
     
  4. jalopi42

    jalopi42 Don't Wait

    in cliffs book he writes about solid fuel inlet seats showing up in the mid 70's with manufacture discontinuing Windowed seats claiming improved fuel control.
    QUOAT[the only advantage of solid is that does not allow the carb to drain back as low in the fuel bowl, this can be an advantage if drain back is causing hard starting problems after the vehicle sits for any length of time]now with every kit I have bought over the years for pre 75 they all come with a varity of windowed inlet openings none of which seems to match the original one or the one I was replacing I'm no expert at all on this just fwiw
     
  5. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    Most of what I've seen up here is a combination of volatile pump gas and bad seals or gaskets in the pump. With the Q-jet the Electra ran lean, so it ran hot. A lot of fuel would evaporate out of the bowl and just perk out the vent, I could smell it in the garage. Then it would drain back and be a bear to start with the Q-jet and a Chinese made fuel pump on, but since I put the AFB back and got a US made pump things are fine; 2 pumps after a week and it lights right off. Running on a daily basis = 1 pump and it cranks twice and lights off, almost like an injected car.
     
  6. schlepcar

    schlepcar Gold Level Contributor

    X2...any crack or pinhole will pull air and not create enough vacuum to pull fuel while cranking slow. Also check for rust on fuel lines that may be able to draw air. There is also a small check valve made into the fuel filter that should be checked and/or replaced.
     
  7. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    I had the hard start problem on my Wagon when it was V6 powered.
    it turned out the metal line had worn against the frame, making a pinhole
    that gas would drip out. I found the pinhole after putting the 455 in;
    electric fuel pump near tank vs mechanical at engine. That gas squirted like crazy out of the
    pinhole! Had to replace line.
     
  8. lemmy-67

    lemmy-67 Platinum Level Contributor

    If you have electronic ignition, it will not fire the hall cell and release the coil field to the plugs unless it gets a full 12V during cranking. I sometimes have hard starts when my car's been sitting for 3+ days and I don't have the trickle charger connected.

    Anyway, be sure you have the blue pump cup installed on your Q-Jet's accelerator pump as well...the ethanol in the gas will shrink/crack the conventional pump cups and you won't get a good shot to the primaries...which also hampers cold starts.
     
  9. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    would that also be noticeable when driving the car from a stop sign? a hesitation or stall when taking off from the light?
     
  10. lemmy-67

    lemmy-67 Platinum Level Contributor

    Not if your alternator is doing its job...or if the ignition switch is not crapping out. I've had a bad dashboard ignition switch on 2 separate incidents in my 1980 chevy van which caused faulty operation of my HEI ignition system. The first time, the switch was so crappy that my van was dying on inclines, and even on the freeway...engine would just stall out & die.

    The second time, my ignition switch shorted the start & run terminals, and my starter solenoid was engaged all the time, unless I put the tranny in R/D/L and the neutral-safety switch kicked in. Interesting ride home that time...had to keep the engine in gear all the time unless I wanted to go deaf hearing my flex plate grind against the starter pinion.

    Thankfully...I have not had these problems in the Buick...it also has dashboard ignition. The original switch is still doing fine.
     
  11. garybuick

    garybuick Time Traveler

    Well. I replaced the fuel pump and all those issues are gone now. After sitting a week, it now fires up after 3 to 5 seconds of cranking.
     

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