What's wrong with my RA28?

[Anna]

Hey all,

I just bought an RA28 (18RC, 3spd Auto, and yes it's veeery slow) and it had been in the mechanics for the past week getting the brake master cylinder rebuilt and a few other little things fixed. Finally I got it home on Thursday, but I'm finding it very difficult to start. Jesse (formally know as JesseT18) told me to pump the accelerator 3 times before starting it and it should start great. Well yeah it did for a few times but now that doesn't work. This problem only seems to be when it's cold, although I still need to give it some when I turn it on any other time.

Usually I can get it started after quite a bit of struggle, but I just went out to start her and I can't get it started. It just doesn't want to kick over. It's not my battery either as I just bought one yesterday (unless it's a faulty one). Could it be my starter motor? If not does anyone have any idea what the hell is wrong with my car?

Thanks heaps to anyone who can help!
-Anna-

[kingmick]

is the choke connected? have you tried one pump and hold foot flat while you crank it? some older cars have there own unique way of starting.

[Anna]

Yeah Jesse was the one who figured that was the good way to start my car (he serviced it for me). Apparently they played around with the choke so it would start better. I should assume the choke would be connected... I'll go check it out. Thanks heaps for your help.

[dale30]

Is it spinng over fast when you crank it.???

[river]

Hi,

I thought the car would have an automatic choke - being an auto 18RC?

Does the starter actually try and spin the engine? If not, check the switch that for the auto transmission. It should only start in Neutral or Park and if the switch is stuffed then it may not start at all. When I say "start" I mean actually start the starter motor.

Or, does the starter work, but the engine won't fire and run on it's own?

seeyuzz
river

[Anna]

Yeah it's got an Auto choke. My neighbour just looked at the choke and he said that next to it there should be fuel but its really dry. It looks as though it's not circulating the fuel properly.?

Yeah I don't think it's the starter motor. If the starter motor is screwed it wont even try to start will it? It started just then for 1 second and then cut out straight away.

I finally get my dream car and it wont even start... Oh it's so damn frustrating!!!

[MWP]

I thought the car would have an automatic choke - being an auto 18RC?

AFAIK all 18R-C's did have auto choke on the factory carb.
The original 18R's had a manual choke.

Well these cars are getting on in age now.
Gaskets in carbs do perish, and starter motors do wear out.
Sorry, but you may have to spend more $$s fixing it

Try and find a good specialist carb repair/tuneing shop (not your local mechanic).
They will tell you if it is a carb problem and what can be done about it.
If you have the $$s, also get them to tune it while its there, itll run a lot better with a good carb tune.
Normal mecahincs can do this work, but tuneing carbs can be an art form, better to get someone who does it a lot.

["Z" UTE]

Hi Anna, the choke butterfly at the top of the carby should be dry.

Choke operates by restricting the air flow in the carby, this restriction actualy causes the air to flow more quickly through the venturi, and draws in extra fuel for starting.

If someone who is unfamiliar with these old carbies, has tried to adjust an automatic choke, then that would be where the problem is.

Cheers Chuck.

[Anna]

Well I ended up getting it started. I asked Jesse to come have a look at it and as soon as he got there i went out to start it and it started fine! He just thinks it was flooded.

Everyday it just doesn't want to start! I'm getting soooo frustrated! Everyday since the weekend I go out to see if it will start and it just hates me and doesn't start. My brother ended up getting it started last night and it just stunk of feul and spat out a lot of smoke, so it seems to keep flooding itself. Does anyone have any idea what would be causing it's constant flooding, if thats what is happening?

Thanks,
Anna.

[merc-blue]

stop pumping the accelerator,
auto choke + pumping accelerator before/during starting = flooding

[Anna]

stop pumping the accelerator,
auto choke + pumping accelerator before/during starting = flooding

Yep tried that too.. Still doesn't want to kick over! I'm taking it back to the mechanic so hopefully they can find out what's wrong.

[ace]

I bet I could get it started!!! I've had idling, choke and carby problems with my 2T before.
There probably is something wrong with the carby but even when its fixed it'll take a while to get used to the exact procedure to start the car when its cold (warm should be easy).

[oldcorollas]

the choke might be set too tight, so it'S actually choking the engine or more to the point, sucking fuel instead of air.

adjust the auto choke so there is not as much tension on the flap... or hold the flap open, and try to start...

turn key to get it cranking a couple of times.. if it doesn't fire, half open throttle... if it still doesn't fire, pump it a couple of times whilst cranking.

if it doesn't start, and really stinks of fuel, then there is probably fuel puddle in the manifold

when you leave it for a while, the fuel evaporates and then is able to start..

cars will run without choke, bt they might be a bit bitchy at you whilst warming up...

["Z" UTE]

I agree with Stewart on the choke being set too tight. To adjust, loosen but do not remove the three phillips head screws that hold the round black spring cover on the carby. Rotate the cover anticlockwise 10 degrees at a time, and tighten the screws, check starting between adjustments. The good intentioned "mechanic" has probably adjusted too much tension into the spring.

cheers Chuck.

[ChArMs]

I was having the same problem with my car found out it was the idiol mixtures!! so tune ups a must .. lol
i freaked out thinking it was the stater motor but it wasnt u get thinking like its somthing major but in the end its the littles thing! well most times
Hope u get it fixed! cars can be a pain in the a*s hahaha