308 not starting, need advice
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I have done it now. I have taken a working car that I drove home 1200 miles and broken it. :mad:
I was in the process of cleaning the air filters, so I took off the assembly blew them out with air and washed the metal filters in gas a couple of times. While I waited for the filters to evaporate I decided to spray down the carburetors and linkages with carburetor cleaner. I sprayed down the outside and went to start the car, it would not start. I assume that I got some of the carb cleaner in the carburetors. I did not think it would be too much of a problem, the stuff evaporates extremely fast. I gave it a little time, tried again, tried, and tried some more. I added a little gas to the carbs and even tried starting fluid, nothing works. The engine turns freely, the battery has lot of power (I plugged it in), It cranks and cranks, but never catches. I have no idea what to do other than call a mechanic. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I was in the process of cleaning the air filters, so I took off the assembly blew them out with air and washed the metal filters in gas a couple of times. While I waited for the filters to evaporate I decided to spray down the carburetors and linkages with carburetor cleaner. I sprayed down the outside and went to start the car, it would not start. I assume that I got some of the carb cleaner in the carburetors. I did not think it would be too much of a problem, the stuff evaporates extremely fast. I gave it a little time, tried again, tried, and tried some more. I added a little gas to the carbs and even tried starting fluid, nothing works. The engine turns freely, the battery has lot of power (I plugged it in), It cranks and cranks, but never catches. I have no idea what to do other than call a mechanic. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Comments
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Assuming it ran well before your cleaning tasks a few things to try are check to see if you have spark at the plugs when cranking by removing a plug wire and inserting a screw driver in the wire while touching the head. If sparks remove the sparkplugs and clean or replace them.
If no spark, check inside your distributor points, condenser, etc.
If you have spark everywhere, then ensure you have gas squirting out of the nozzels inside the carbs.
After that it gets a little more detailed by checking if it jumped time which is easy but should not be necessary in your case.0 -
Michael, are you getting any spark? It sounds like you have checked the fuel side but not the spark. Disconnect a sparkplug wire and place it close, about an 1/8 of an inch, but not in contact with, some metal. Using the solenoid button as a starter, be sure key is on, try to start the engine and watch for spark from the loose wire jumping to the metal. If no spark jumping, there is at least part of your problem.
Also, have you checked all of the electrical connections at the coil? Check them and clean with steel wool or sand paper. Maybe in your trip home something vibrated loose.
Good luck
Doug0 -
Well, I found a problem, I am not sure if it is "the" problem. When I tried to disconnect the plug wire I found it broken. Could this cause the engine not to fire or just affect the one cylinder?0
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Although that is a problem, it will not keep the engine from starting/running. Have you checked for spark, yet?0
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RL Chilton wrote:Although that is a problem, it will not keep the engine from starting/running. Have you checked for spark, yet?
I had Nicole crank the car while I held the broken plug-wire close, I did not get a spark.0 -
mjsandbe wrote:Well, I found a problem, I am not sure if it is "the" problem. When I tried to disconnect the plug wire I found it broken. Could this cause the engine not to fire or just affect the one cylinder?
Micheal: Looking at the picture, I would suggest that the failure of the plug connection occured when you attempted removal. If memory serves me, you have not driven the car since the time you posted a request for information about what filters would be best for your twin H. If so, the car has sat long enough for fuel to in the carburetors be less than optimum. I would check each carburetor to assure they are providing fuel to the engine. You do this with the ignition off and while peering down the throat of the carburetor you push the throttle fully. There should be a strong squirt of gas into the barrel of the carbuetor. Repeat on the second carburetor. If this is not so, the carburetors do not have sufficent fuel to start and keep the car running. This is a common issue with Hudsons when they have sat for a while. Crank the engine (out of gear) with the solinoid button and the key off. This should get fuel into the carburetors... make the same fuel flow check as before. If you now have fuel then fix your plug wire and attemp to restart. If this does not work then there are other things to check.
Good Luck.0 -
mjsandbe wrote:I have done it now. I have taken a working car that I drove home 1200 miles and broken it. :mad:
I was in the process of cleaning the air filters, so I took off the assembly blew them out with air and washed the metal filters in gas a couple of times. While I waited for the filters to evaporate I decided to spray down the carburetors and linkages with carburetor cleaner. I sprayed down the outside and went to start the car, it would not start. I assume that I got some of the carb cleaner in the carburetors. I did not think it would be too much of a problem, the stuff evaporates extremely fast. I gave it a little time, tried again, tried, and tried some more. I added a little gas to the carbs and even tried starting fluid, nothing works. The engine turns freely, the battery has lot of power (I plugged it in), It cranks and cranks, but never catches. I have no idea what to do other than call a mechanic. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I suggest taking your time to review all the advice you recieved then check one thing at a time to ensure that you have both spark and fuel. I dont think it should require a mechanic since it ran up until you serviced the air cleaners.
I think pouring gas and starting fluid into the carbs and pumping repeatedly trying to start may have fouled all your sparkplugs. Try taking one plug out and lay it the head then crank for spark at the gap.
When removing the plug wires twist them first before pulling them off to release the rubber suction. I suggest cleaning them or replace if worn.
Good Luck0 -
mjsandbe wrote:I have done it now. I have taken a working car that I drove home 1200 miles and broken it. :mad:
I was in the process of cleaning the air filters, so I took off the assembly blew them out with air and washed the metal filters in gas a couple of times. While I waited for the filters to evaporate I decided to spray down the carburetors and linkages with carburetor cleaner. I sprayed down the outside and went to start the car, it would not start. I assume that I got some of the carb cleaner in the carburetors. I did not think it would be too much of a problem, the stuff evaporates extremely fast. I gave it a little time, tried again, tried, and tried some more. I added a little gas to the carbs and even tried starting fluid, nothing works. The engine turns freely, the battery has lot of power (I plugged it in), It cranks and cranks, but never catches. I have no idea what to do other than call a mechanic. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
A guy who occsionally posts on this forum signs off with " If it ain't broke, fix it til it is". Don't worry WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE & DONE THAT at some time.:D:D0 -
Ok, just relax and breath slowly and deeply. :eek:
This is the dance we all do when we own and drive these old cars. One thing breaks and it leads to another that breaks and pretty soon it seems like the whole thing is falling down around us. Then the headlights will leak oil.
Just methodically deal with one little issue after another and as someone mentioned it will become clear. There is nothing more satisfying than the successful troubleshooting process.:rolleyes:..slim0 -
Thank you to everyone who has responded.
Ok, I checked for spark on two different plug wires and there was spark. I checked each carburetor and the gas was flowing. I pulled the first plug (from the bumper) and it was fouled (filthy and full of gas). The 2nd plug was fouled also. I was going to pull all six and sandpaper them, but my friend dropped the third plug and it broke. So, I ran out to NAPA today and picked up 6 new champion H12s. I plan on installing them tonight and trying to start it. I am hopefull it is as simple as fouled plugs. If not, the investigation will continue.0 -
Michael-
Just to let you know, that's a little hotter plug. Std. for a stock engine is H10's.
Also, your plugs fouled out for a reason, and you would do well to find out what caused it. Usually, it's because she's running a little rich, but not always.0 -
RL Chilton wrote:Michael-
Just to let you know, that's a little hotter plug. Std. for a stock engine is H10's.
Also, your plugs fouled out for a reason, and you would do well to find out what caused it. Usually, it's because she's running a little rich, but not always.
I installed the plugs and it fired up
I got H12s because that is what was in the 308. What do you mean by "a little hotter plug."? What are the implications?
I am sure there is documentation on how to dial in the mixture. Do you have the link to one at hand?
Thanks.0 -
mjsandbe wrote:
H-12 are for city driving and H-10's are for highway driving. If you are only going on short trips, use H-12's. When you plan to travel the highways at speed, put the H-10's in. Check your carbs that the floats are closing when you shut your engine off, because you could have bad needle and seats. This will let gas drip down till the fuel pump pressure is gone. Walt.I installed the plugs and it fired up
I got H12s because that is what was in the 308. What do you mean by "a little hotter plug."? What are the implications?
I am sure there is documentation on how to dial in the mixture. Do you have the link to one at hand?
Thanks.0 -
Hey Michael,
Glad you got er fixed!
And Denverslim-"headlights will leak oil"--:-) NOW THATS FUNNY RIGHT THERE!!
Been there and done that too........
Jeff0 -
That's why they don't build computers in Britain, because they can't make them leak oil.0
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Geoff C., N.Z. wrote:That's why they don't build computers in Britain, because they can't make them leak oil.
That was very funny!
Todd0
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