Help starting this car.

[MetalSlug]

my 85 mustang gt 5.0 carburator, been park 2 month without start, car do have alarm system, this morning I try to start it and it will not turn over. I pump the gas many time before start also but no luck, I remember 1 old guy told me, that the ethanol fuel is not great for these car and it will hard to start if park too long . Any idea ? thanks

 

[GreeCguy]

Is your battery dead? Will the motor actually turn over?

If it does, you might have flooded it. If it's flooded, hold the gas pedal all the way to the floor for a minute or two BEFORE cranking, (do not pump the pedal, simply push it to the floor). This will allow gasoline vapors to escape via the carb. Next, with your gas pedal still to the floor, crank the motor. Hold the pedal to the floor the entire time until the motor starts, (don't run the starter for long periods of time or it will overheat). Once it starts, you'll have to play with the gas pedal a bit to keep it running, but no matter what, even if it dies and you have to start it again, do not pump the pedal. All of this is assuming you have flooded the motor with raw gasoline from pumping the gas pedal too much.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

Is it not turning over, or not starting? Big difference there.

Old gas in an old car sounds like the culprit.

 

[dave123]

Why are you pumping the gas if it will not turn over????

 

[MetalSlug]

old habit, I usually pump gas pedal 1-2 before starting carb car.

yes the batteries was weak, since I have alarm system and I think that run the batteries down, I jump it with my truck batteries. It has strong crank, it just not turn over.

I will try you guy suggest in few hours, its 7am here. Btw Can I spray some starting fluid on the carb to help it start ?

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Just do a little troubleshooting. You need three things to make an engine run-fuel, air and spark. You're missing one at the right time and you need to do a little troubleshooting to figure out which one.

Originally Posted By: MetalSlug
Btw Can I spray some starting fluid on the carb to help it start ?


Sure.

Originally Posted By: MetalSlug
I remember 1 old guy told me, that the ethanol fuel is not great for these car and it will hard to start if park too long .


My pickup is often parked for two or three months at a time with ethanol in it, and I've never had an issue starting it.

 

[charbaby]

Yea, starting fluid in the Carb may help get some fuel in there so that the engine will catch, even if the engine only starts breifly! And yes, you may have flooded the engine but, who knows as we're not there!

I leave my '80 Firebird FORMULA V8-4bbl sit for six months or longer. Though I use Sta-Bil and I have a bettery maintainer. The engine has started every spring for the last 33 years without issues. Maybe, I have flooded it in the past(can't recall).

If the engine won't start, then you'll need to check for fuel and/or spark.

 

[fdcg27]

My first guess would be an ignition system problem.
Take the distributor cap off and clean the contacts, especially the ones on the rotor.
I'd bet the thing will then light right off.
Check the cap for cracks.
The car could probably use a new cap and rotor and maybe new wires.

 

[Brybo86]

Originally Posted By: MetalSlug
I jump it with my truck batteries. It has strong crank, it just not turn over.


cranks but doesn't turn over? I'm lost

 

[SHOZ]

Turn over=crank. Not firing=no start.

Take the cap off and spray the inside with WD 40. Spray down the spark plug wires too.

 

[MetalSlug]

yub its not firing

 

[Chris142]

Gas evaporated in the carb. Pour some gas down the carb and see if it will run a few seconds

 

[NHGUY]

Fuel injection solved a lot of problems like this years ago.

 

[ag_ghost]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Gas evaporated in the carb. Pour some gas down the carb and see if it will run a few seconds

FWIW, this is the major issue on the 390 Galaxie in my sig. I dribble just a few drops and it starts right up after weeks or months of inactivity.
Kevin

 

[ag_ghost]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Fuel injection solved a lot of problems like this years ago.

Agreed, but not all of us have time, money and/or inclination for such upgrades.
Kevin

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: ag_ghost
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Gas evaporated in the carb. Pour some gas down the carb and see if it will run a few seconds

FWIW, this is the major issue on the 390 Galaxie in my sig. I dribble just a few drops and it starts right up after weeks or months of inactivity.
Kevin


Yes, but if he's already pumped the gas pedal like crazy, there's plenty of gas in the combustion chambers. My guess is that he flooded it trying to start it. Adding more gas will only make the problem worse.

 

[MetalSlug]

quick update, have some time today to try to start it. I spray some valvoline starter fluid in it, it does turn over, but dies right away, I was mad and ask my gf to start the car and i spray whole can while the car turn over, it run and run until the can go out

.

 

[cjcride]

Fuel delivery problem.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: MetalSlug
quick update, have some time today to try to start it. I spray some valvoline starter fluid in it, it does turn over, but dies right away, I was mad and ask my gf to start the car and i spray whole can while the car turn over, it run and run until the can go out

.


You could have a stuck float or needle in the carb blocking fuel delivery or perhaps the fuel pump took a dump. You could disconnect the fuel line from the carb and put it in a can of some sort then roll the engine over. If gas comes out, the fuel pump is working. If it doesn't, there's your problem.

 

[MetalSlug]

the tank is full when i park 2 month ago. it crank fine every time I crank it before. hmmm