Re: Car won't start without priming carb

Posted by Tim Cole On 2016/10/11 14:58:57

Gee, all this arguing and the poor guy just wants some help.

The priming test idea is excellent. And nobody has told him that.

So what I would do is get the car good and hot, drive it home, shut it off for an hour, and take the top off the carburetor. One of my old GM carburetor books says that a partial vacuum caused by a fully closed throttle can empty a carburetor. But if that motor doesn't have an anti-flood drain that idea is blown up.

I would do a compression test on the engine. It could be that the engine doesn't have enough compression to pull gas and the priming creates enough of a seal to get it started. I

I just had this kind of experience with my 19 year old modern car. I pulled off the freeway for gas, filled it, and when I pulled out it lost power and wouldn't go over 25 mph. First I called the station just to check - their tanks are new which is why I go there. Next I checked ignition and fuel - both good. So I pulled out my compression tester and found two low cylinders. Yet the car idled perfectly. After adding oil the compression came way up so I knew the engine was gone. Just like that the rings stuck. I threw some Risolone in it and drove it to the dealer. That engine was weak for years and I knew it because I did compression tests. I don't have time to fix it so I bought a new car.