Why is my car doing this?

I did not take time to read all the post, but look at LARRY"S post. In my opinion, he is on the mark. While cranking, voltage drops, and if the bypass circuit is not connected, then the resistor circuit lowers the voltage to where the engine will not start. 2 batteries raises the voltage to where it will.
Go for it. If you don't know what we are talking about, it is the wire on the outside of the soleniod on the starter. It goes to the coil + and bypasses the resistor wire in the ignition circuit.
Jim N.

 

i was just going to reply with what larry said also. to test get the condition to happen, then just take a jumper wire from the battery positive and connect it to the positive on the coil. have someone try to start it with the wire connected, if it starts remove the wire instantly and fault trace the wire down to the solinoid.

 

in regards to the whole gas thing...it seems like if i pump it at all and try to start it it floods right away cause i smell a lot of gas.

ill try to figure out how to do larrys suggestion

 

That shouldn't happen?????

 

so if it starts when i do that...replace the solenoid?

 

i dont know if its necessarily flooding but i smell gas...i have a little gas fuel filter right before my carb that i can see gas in

 

Not one of them chrome and glass ones???
They burn up cars as it can break.

 

Ade... let's start at the beginning. First, adjust the choke.

With it ice cold in the AM, remove the air cleaner and press the accelerator to the floor ONCE. Now, look at the butterflies at the top of the carb.

They should be all the way closed. If they are not, then loosen the screws that hold the choke adjuster on the passenger side of the carb (that big dial-looking thing). Then turn it until the butterflies are closed.

Then do NOT give it any gas and crank it over a few times and see if it starts.

Report back.

FYI... this is the proper procedure for starting our cars when cold. Floor it once to set the choke and then crank it til it starts.

 

i kind of feel like an idiot for posting this now...
this morning i went to start it with the same results then i said screw it ill just give it some gas a see what happens...i pumped the as to the floor about 2 or 3 times and it started right up.

i thought that just cause i smelled gas it was flooding...little did i know it just needed a little more...

 

Good to know! I usually give it pumps as im turning it over, but flooring it then starting it works quite nicely :TU:

BTW 68riviera430, we have a lot of the same minor problems w/ our cars and you also sound kinda like me. You also have the hesitation on gas right? Im 17, how old are you?

 

yeah i got the hesitation on gas too.
i just turned 18
thats cool dude.

 

You get that fixed yet?
I cant wait til I turn 18 in January, then i can go to junkyards by myself
But im pretty new learnin how to fix things. Luckily i found this site or i would be clueless. Kinda hard to believe i joined in may and its now december

 

When folks say pump it they mean to the floor.
You may have other issues if you smell gas so quick or your nose works to good. [leak in fuel or return line if it has AC. [Had a hole in my line I could put my pinky into and the car still ran fine.]

If you have a carb older then you don't play with it. Take this lesson and just buy a well done rebuilt one. Ill never fuss with an old carb again.

go here, super cheap
http://www.nationalcarburetors.com/

 

nope i need to replace the vacuum lines on my modulator then see what happens

 

yeah i do pump it to the floor.
i dont smell it while im sitting in the car...only if i get out