Trouble starting when hot.

[Pans8pie]

Hey everyone, been having a few problems with starting her up recently.
2.0 laser
right so from cold the engine starts perfect everytime. However, from hot after drive around for a bit the engine just wont seem to fire up again unless i wait half hour or so, and then its takes alot of turning over before it sounds as though its trying to fire up then have to give it some gas to catch the spark. its very irritating as i currently can only drive it when i know im not under any time constraints, its also annoying when people stop to have a look as im getting back in and then it wont start as i look a fool! i want to be able to drive it about without constantly thinking i better not stop anywhere

any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

it has new ignition cables, battery is new, started motor is new, alternator is new, plugs are new(altho i have noticed some slight carbon fouling, but i dont think this is the issue as it would surely affect cold start too)

cheers guys!

[Mc Tool]

What sort of carb ? Im thinking that the float level may be to high . Specially if its a 32/36 dgav as the black plastic floats can soak up fuel and not float properly . I nearly went mad till this penny dropped

[Pans8pie]

[quote="Mc Tool"]What sort of carb ? Im thinking that the float level may be to high . Specially if its a 32/36 dgav as the black plastic floats can soak up fuel and not float properly . I nearly went mad till this penny dropped [/quo

i believe its a standard carb. it has a r5617 tag on it? 32

everything ive learnt about cars has been learnt on this car so everytime theres a new problem i see it as something new to learn (every cloud)

[Peter-S]

Sounds like it could be running too rich then. Next time try starting it with the accelerator flat on the floor as you crank it when warm. If it fires up more easily that tends to indicate too much fuel. As suggested above, check the float is working properly and set at the correct height. It could also be that the float needle is worn and needs replacing as it is letting too much fuel past.

[D366Y]

I would also say check the mixture, mine sometimes has the same problem (not to the same extent) so sometimes I have to give it a bit more choke as it runs a bit lean if not warm enough even if I've only recently turned it off.

[pbar]

Just a thought, but you do know the starting procedure when hot is different than when cold don't you? Typically, you would hold the accelerator part way down whilst starting when warm (and without pumping the pedal beforehand)

[Pans8pie]

thanks for the tips guys, i will have a look when it stops bloody raining and isnt dark!

[Mc Tool]

Valve clearance can have a big effect too . If the clearances close up ( specially the intake ) it will spoil the idle ( much more noticeable when hot ) and this will add to hot starting issues . I have found that if the intake close up to 4=5 thou ( cold ) , should be 8-9 , that's enough to have a very noticeable effect , and it is free to check ........ just to eliminate one more thing

[Bug]

Is the auto choke working correctly?
If it is stuck open then there is a slight possibility, given the 'non-carb literate numpties' that are taking over our garages, that it may have been tuned richer with the engine cold, to get it to start and run better. Once warmed up it would be far too rich.

Admittedly a less likely option, but if nothing else it will further your education to learn how that auto choke works.

[pbar]

it may have been tuned richer with the engine cold, to get it to start and run better. Once warmed up it would be far too rich.

When you say that Martin, do you mean the hosing which contains the bimetallic strip has been turned, to enable a richer choke?

[Bug]

it may have been tuned richer with the engine cold, to get it to start and run better. Once warmed up it would be far too rich.

When you say that Martin, do you mean the hosing which contains the bimetallic strip has been turned, to enable a richer choke?

No, I was meaning that the car may have been tuned assuming the choke was working when in fact it wasn't. To be honest it was just a stab in the dark but I thought it would possibly lead to the choke being looked at and learned about, even if it turned out to be fine.

[pbar]

Fair enough, thank you Martin.

[Pans8pie]

right sorry for the long delay, (my supposed 'reliable' daily drive has died a death) anyways back to the real car, when hot and i crank the engine with my foot flat on the accelerator it starts up much better, a little longer than from cold, sometimes it starts okay warm. so an intermittent problem, would this suggest a float problem causing too much fuel?

if that is the case what is the best way to rectify this, would it be worth replacing the whole carb considering its pretty old anyway?

also with regards to other comments, it has a manual choke, so im assuming it wouldnt have an autochoke aswell right?

cheers guys!

[pbar]

Just a thought, but you do know the starting procedure when hot is different than when cold don't you? Typically, you would hold the accelerator part way down whilst starting when warm (and without pumping the pedal beforehand)