Starting Problems
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Starting Problems
Hi, I have a 1983 f250 with a 351 Windsor, carb is freshly rebuilt, less than 1000 miles on it, I'm having starting problems. If I go out in the morning before work/school the truck starts fine. If I drive it say to the gas station, fill it with gas and go to start it it rolls over very hard and doesn't want to start and most of the time it won't. If I'm on a hill I can pop start it but the starter won't do it. What is everyone's opinion on what's wrong? Starter is a new reman starter, its my second one this month.
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I also tried to mess with the timing, I got it so it would start fine when it was up to temperature but it sat and cooled down then started hard cold. I just guessed at it, I currently don't have a timing light but I'm considering buying one.
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I usually start with cables and grounds with any starting problem. There is a chance that it is flooding when hot, so hold the gas pedal against the floor for a moment then crank.
I get pretty good timing with a vacuum gauge;hook to manifold vacuum at warm idle...turn distributer back and forth until highest vacuum then turn retard it just enough to drop the vacuum a couple in. Hg
I get pretty good timing with a vacuum gauge;hook to manifold vacuum at warm idle...turn distributer back and forth until highest vacuum then turn retard it just enough to drop the vacuum a couple in. Hg
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Three things cause it to turn over hard when hot. One, as trevisM said, the electrical side of things, including the battery and wiring.
Second, the starter itself. As the bearings wear the armature gets closer and closer to the field, and when it gets too close it drags on the field and the starter has little power. But, when the starter is cold it doesn't drag much - just when it gets hot.
Third is timing. Too much timing causes the engine to kick back when starting, but that usually isn't a draggy feeling. Instead the engine spins ok until the first cylinder hits and then the engine stops. Then it'll turn again, only to stop or kick back.
So, if the battery tests good and all the wiring and connections are good then test the starter. The parts stores have a tester for that, as they do for the battery. And you should pull on the cables to make sure the ends aren't loose as it isn't unusual for the connector to be good but for the wire inside to be corroded and failing.
Second, the starter itself. As the bearings wear the armature gets closer and closer to the field, and when it gets too close it drags on the field and the starter has little power. But, when the starter is cold it doesn't drag much - just when it gets hot.
Third is timing. Too much timing causes the engine to kick back when starting, but that usually isn't a draggy feeling. Instead the engine spins ok until the first cylinder hits and then the engine stops. Then it'll turn again, only to stop or kick back.
So, if the battery tests good and all the wiring and connections are good then test the starter. The parts stores have a tester for that, as they do for the battery. And you should pull on the cables to make sure the ends aren't loose as it isn't unusual for the connector to be good but for the wire inside to be corroded and failing.
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This morning I started the my truck, it was cold out so it took a few starts to stay running, I let it warm up for a while then shut it off and cleaned my battery terminals, and where the ground is hooked to the block. Got it and it started but still very hard and I let it run for around an hour before I wanted to leave for school. I shut it off went to start it 10 minutes later and it was rolling over very hard and then made a noise like the starter is missing the flywheel. I'm taking the starter back to have it replaced for the second time since January and I'm going to by a timing light and attempt to time it.
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Don't forget to test the battery and the cables themselves. The part store can test the battery, and you can test the cables and connections. Put your volt meter in the 20 volt range and:
- Using a jumper, put your volt meter from the positive battery post (not the cable's terminal) to the positive terminal on the starter, and try to start it when it doesn't want to start.
- Assuming low voltage when you try to start it, then move the arrangement to the negative terminal of the battery to the engine block, and try to start it.
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I'm pretty sure its not that battery. I thought that before and I hooked the battery charger up to it on the highest 12 volt amp the charger had and it rolled a little faster but still would not start.
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Well I think I may have solved my problem, I went and bought a timing light and timed it, it was way slow and i also got another starter. It seems to be working good now. Thank you everyone for your input!!
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Glad you got it fixed. But it wasn't the timing - assuming by "slow" you mean it was firing around TDC rather than 12 degrees before. Late/slow timing won't make one turn over slowly. Too much, or too early of timing will, as will a bad starter.
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