My 87 GL wagon is having issues starting first thing in the morning. I go to start it in the morning and it will crank but not turn over initially. When it finally does turn over it will run for a few seconds and then die. I have to do this for about ten times and then it will finally turn over and stay running if I give it some gas. It use to turn over first thing and run at about 2K rpms until it warmed up and then it would go down to idle rpms. What do you guys think this could be? Choke is bad or a clogged fuel filter? Any advice would be much appreciated because they want about $300 here in Spokane to rebuild the carb. Thanks a lot.

you said "crank but does not turn over". that's a little confusing. by not turning over, that usually means it doesn't turn over..it doesn't crank, it doesn't try to start. if it's not turning over that sounds battery or connection related. check your battery cables, where they bolt to the battery and make sure you can't turn the battery leads by hand. might be time for some new end links.

 

sounds like you might mean it is turning over, trying to crank but it won't start. will it start if you give it some gas? since i hate carbs and know little about them (what came first, the chicken or the egg?)...i'll leave this up to the others. but sounds to me like a good thorough cleaning of the carb may help. have you ever cleaned it?

Are you pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor a couple of times first on the colder mornings first before trying to start? (That's what the owner's manual says to do and it works for me.) 2K or a little higher is right for the fast idle until things warm up, if it's higher, you tap the accel pedal to kick it down to the 2k range until the choke goes off. Check your ignition wires and clutch pedal switch for the starter related problem.

 

My 87 GL wagon is having issues starting first thing in the morning. I go to start it in the morning and it will crank but not turn over initially. When it finally does turn over it will run for a few seconds and then die. I have to do this for about ten times and then it will finally turn over and stay running if I give it some gas. It use to turn over first thing and run at about 2K rpms until it warmed up and then it would go down to idle rpms. What do you guys think this could be? Choke is bad or a clogged fuel filter? Any advice would be much appreciated because they want about $300 here in Spokane to rebuild the carb. Thanks a lot.

Sorry about the confusion. I ment that it cranks but it will not start initially. I am pushing the gas peddle to the floor before I go to start it. That is how it use to start right away and go to about 2K rpms. I would then tap the gas again to kick out the choke and go back to regular idle rpms. I am thinking that the electric choke is bad but wanted to see what you guys thought. If it is the choke can I buy just a new electric choke and if so where could I buy it from. Thanks

Sounds like a fuel filter. Replace that first.

Take off the top of the air cleaner and verify that when the engine is cold that the choke has closed the butterfly valve. The choke is electrical, so clean the electrical connectors and also the mechanical parts. Check your vacuum hoses carefully. You can adjust the choke also, the choke won't go off with tapping the pedal as it is electrically controlled.

I am going to be changing my oil this weekend so I will go ahead and change out the fuel filter as well since I have not done that since I have owned the car. If this does not solve the problem I am going to have to run some checks on the electric choke. Do you guys have any other suggestions?