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mgbrv8
07-20-2011, 12:45 PM
My grandmothers car a 1986 capri with a 305 and a E4ME computer controlled carb. once you get it started it runs great but its the first cold start that takes for ever. It was rebuild about 3 years ago. Any advice gentlemen. I am kinda in a pickle and no one around here messes with carbs anymore I dont want to just tear into it and mess things up. I am tempted to throw a edelbrock carb on it but then i have to swap the distributor and she will have a check engine light. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Dave

FU
07-20-2011, 01:08 PM
Presuming that the choke is working properly.And the fuel filter is ok.Put a fuel pressure guage on it if you can overnight. Idea is that the fuel pump anti siphon valve has gone bad or has a little wad of debris in it.
Make's one think about what the new "fuel" with at least 15% methanol is doing to the system.

Good Luck.

gbrtng
07-21-2011, 09:28 AM
Pick up a rebuild kit - the 10% ethanol has probably destroyed an internal seal or gasket.

But first make sure the engine coolant temperature sensor input to the ECM is working - it sounds like there is no cold temperature enrichment happening.

PhillipsLT5
07-21-2011, 11:07 AM
305 in a Capri?
You need to find a OLD Guy for help, remember they rule
Younger guys, carbs?
That Quadrajet should have an electric choke, controlled by the
computer. You want to check and see when the engine is cold, before
the first start, press the accelerator pedal to the floor and
release. Look at the top of the carb and see if the choke valve
(flap) is closed. If it is closed it is working properly. If it
starts and stumbles and dies, then you may have to adjust the fast
idle screw to speed up the idle at cold start. There is an adjustment
screw just under the choke housing facing towards the front.
Clockwise to speed up the idle , counterclockwise to slow it down.
You can speed up the idle speed when the choke is on and as the
engine warms up, pop the accelerator pedal and the choke will release
and the fast idle should return to normal operating idle. When the
engine is warmed up and the accelerator pedal is "popped", the choke
valve(flap) at the top of the carb should be open. The fast idle
screw operates on a cam connected to the choke valve linkage and as
the engine warms and the valve(flap) opens, the cam on the choke
linkage turns and the idle speed should slow as the engine reaches
operating temp.

mgbrv8
07-21-2011, 11:21 AM
The thing is that when it is dead cold first start of the morning it is really hard to start alot of cranking. Once its has been started once it fires up like nothing. The fuel pump is pumping, the accelerator pump is squirting fuel before you start it. I am going to check the choke again and see. I will report later on and tell you my findings. Thank you so much for the procedure PhillipsLT5

jcruz
07-22-2011, 12:10 AM
This forum would be a great help: http://forums.performanceyears.com/forums/index.php

gbrtng
07-23-2011, 07:50 AM
The thing is that when it is dead cold first start of the morning it is really hard to start alot of cranking. Once its has been started once it fires up like nothing. The fuel pump is pumping, the accelerator pump is squirting fuel before you start it. I am going to check the choke again and see. I will report later on and tell you my findings. Thank you so much for the procedure PhillipsLT5

Your first task is to figure out whether the cold start problem is too rich or too lean. If too lean, a scan tool will help you see the ECM inputs and which one is out of kilter. If too rich, it might the stuck choke valve problem - You can always clear a flood by flooring the throttle which opens the choke a bit and
cranks a lean mixture.