No idle
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Pomona, CA
No idle
I've been trying to get my truck running for the past month or so and am almost there. Here is my current problem. I can get the starter to turn over, but the truck will not start. It will start, however, with the aid of starter fluid. If I rev the engine, I can keep it running, but if I let off, it will idle for a short time (3-5 seconds) and then die. It has a couple of gallons of gas so that isn't the problem. Any ideas?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 34
From: S/W Virginia
well if its not been running for a long time, it may take a little while to get it idling by itself. Will it start if you pour gas in the carb? also, if it idles for a few seconds and then dies, make sure that your choke is not flooding it out and make sure that your float is set right and not flooding it out. Make sure too that the idle screw is holding the throttle open enough to idle.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 976
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From: SOUTH CAROLINA
spend the 15 bucks and get a rebuild kit for the carb. also get a gallon of parts cleaner and soak the carb components for a while before you put it back together. use an old toothbrush to get the harder stuff off. are you sure the fuel pump is working properly? after they sit sometimes the diaphram will dry out and break.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: nevada
fuel starvation
Also I would pull the gas line at the carb and turn the motor over to see if the pump will push any gas into a container. Make sure you dont have any sparks on any wires. Have you changed all the filters, and checked the float/bowl on carb?
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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I'm with baitmaster. If it'll run for a few seconds after dumping in some fuel and then stop then you're not getting fuel from the tank to the carb. First thing to do is pull off the fuel filter. If the filter canister is full of a real fine brown mud looking dust, then that is rust from your tank. It can cause your fuel pump to give up the ghost. It did mine. Then I put in a new pump and it plugged up again. Both times the filter canister had about an inch of that rust powder. It got into the carb bowl and had plugged the lines. I had to take the lines off and blow air through them and then replace the tank. If you don't have the rust problem then you may just have a bad fuel pump. The good thing is that fixing the fuel problems is easy.
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Summervillle SC
Originally Posted by 72ford100
I've been trying to get my truck running for the past month or so and am almost there. Here is my current problem. I can get the starter to turn over, but the truck will not start. It will start, however, with the aid of starter fluid. If I rev the engine, I can keep it running, but if I let off, it will idle for a short time (3-5 seconds) and then die. It has a couple of gallons of gas so that isn't the problem. Any ideas?
Last edited by 71_F100; Mar 10, 2005 at 02:50 PM.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 34
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From: Pomona, CA
Thanks for all the input. I can keep the truck running for a very long time if I keep my foot on the accelerator after it starts, but once I let off, it dies.
I'll check the fuel filter first since that seems most logical and easiest. However, I'm rather new at this and can't seem to find my fuel filter. I've looked through books, but haven't found anything to help me. I've got a 72 f100 with a 302. Anyone?
I'll check the fuel filter first since that seems most logical and easiest. However, I'm rather new at this and can't seem to find my fuel filter. I've looked through books, but haven't found anything to help me. I've got a 72 f100 with a 302. Anyone?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
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From: S/W Virginia
some models have them built on to the fuel pump on the drivers side of the engine and some have a small screw on type that screws right into the carb. i have both on my six cylinder, buts in in one of those two places.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 6
Mine did that for a while. The problem was that my points had somehow closed. They weren't broken or burnt. It's as though the screw came loose. I just put in a new dizzy 3 mos ago and set them then. I must not have tightened the screw enough. Now it runs like a champ.
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12
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From: Summervillle SC
QMan has a good point. Do you have a duraspark ignition or do you have points/condenser? This could be your issue. I converted mine years ago and chunked the points in the trash. I've never had a problem since. -S
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 6
From: Coal country
I'm with 4Cammer on this one. Check your carb, needle and seat, and the bowl of the carb for trash.
Check your fuel pump too. Pump some gas into a glass jar, and see what it looks like. Water or crud will certainly make it run poorly.
Also, how old is the gas? If it is more than 6 months, you probably won't be able to idle it well, especially if there are other problems.
Check your fuel pump too. Pump some gas into a glass jar, and see what it looks like. Water or crud will certainly make it run poorly.
Also, how old is the gas? If it is more than 6 months, you probably won't be able to idle it well, especially if there are other problems.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 6
We have different sets of guys agreeing with one another but the fact is that any and/or all of them could be contributing to your problems. I think I've piped in here with 2 or 3 of the things I've already had to deal with. So that's us, sharing our trials in order to help.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Pomona, CA
I really appreciate the input. I went ahead today and pulled the fuel line at the carburetor and turned the engine over into a glass jar. The gas was dark reddish in color and had tiny brown specks of rust floating everywhere. Obviously, I'll have to replace the tank and fuel lines. Before I get started, can anyone who has been here give me an estimate on what this costs?
Oh, and another thing. I can't find my fuel filter and have been informed that I don't have one! Could this be the case?
Thanks again.
Oh, and another thing. I can't find my fuel filter and have been informed that I don't have one! Could this be the case?
Thanks again.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: nevada
more info
You say that it will run if you keep your foot on it. I would boil that carb out and rebuild it. Could just be the idle channels are plugged with carbon/rust. It takes more gas to run it fast than at an idle, so it must be getting gas, unless the fuel pump is weak and cant pressure up at idle. Carb kit, fuel pump, filter(s) are cheap fixes. I run one of those see thru filters at the tank, and another one just before the carb. Makes it easy to see if theres any crud coming out of the tank.