should my ea82 be lean with factory settings on the carb? i get white plugs and it doesn't like to start cold you have to pump the pedle a few times to get it to start but runs like a top when warm.

Have you Checked the Choke?

yeah the choke is working

Well - carbs do need to be "pumped" in order to start. That is totally normal. Most people these days are not used to this anymore being that carbs have all but dissapeared for going on 20 years. FI does not require this.

 

As for running lean, that's probably another story. I would check for exhaust leaks, and make sure your cooling system is setup right. Your should have the stock 190 thermostat.... lower temp or innefiecient cooling system (too hot) can cause mixture issues.

 

Carb cannot be adjusted - they are jetted - so the only adjustment you have is the choke adjustment/pull-off, and the idle mixture.

 

GD

the car was set up in washington so i am asuming the dealer settings were correct and there are no exhaust leaks

I haven't worked on a carbed EA82, but if they are similar to the EA81 system then they have one or two ECU-controlled duty-solenoids that are used to alter the mixture. They work by venting (reducing vacuum signal in) the carbs emulsion circuits.

 

Anyways, if one of the vacuum hoses to the solenoids is loose/leaking, the mixture will lean out. If the solenoid is stuck open then it could lean out. If the ECU is keeping the solenoids open too long (ECU or the EGO sensor malfunctioning) then it could be too lean.

 

Another question is: Are the plugs just showing clean white, or "Death-ash" grey?

There are models of the EA82 carb that had the feedback computer, but most did not (same goes for the EA81 as I'm sure you know). Largely it was CA models, and 2WD's that got it. I have a sedan that *used* to have that setup. I gave a whirl at fixing it, but was confounded by a sensor that I can't find a good used replacement for, and the dealer wanted my soul.... unfortunately I already sold it to a Ford dealer a number of years back..... so yeah....

 

Anyway, I guess my point being that he may not have he ECU controlled carb - in fact most did not use this rather horrific configutation, and it seems that the ones that did have largely been shot full of holes somewhere on a logging road, left to die in a back yard, or have been eaten by other hungry feedback EA82's. Mine was about 60 seconds from going to the junk yard when I saved it with a Weber transplant.

 

GD

The plugs were border line grey and the white just wiped right off...