Startup from Hell "Stalling"

[BTTF-1]

I have put a lot of time and money into trying to get my D in tip top shape. Now for whatever reason it is a real pain in the butt to start. You have to tap the gas pedal in and out a hundred times to get it to start. All it wants to do is stall. If you do not get a Charlie horse in your foot and you do get the car running it’s ok until you shut it off again.


I have completed a major tune up with a new exhaust system. Replaced the injectors and fuel hoses as well.

Any one have any thoughts on this latest issue.

Ed:angry_whip:

[sean]

Is this strictly a cold start problem or is it also hard to start after driving it a bit?

[Jimmycxc]

I'm certainly not an expert,but sounds like you are not getting fuel to the engine at start up. Have you checked the fuel pump? Can you hear it turn on when you put the key to accessory?

[Mike C.]

accumulator

[DeLorean]

accumulator

Yes, and test the warm up regulator too. special-T auto sells rebuilt units for around $150.

[BTTF-1]

Sean

This is a start up issue. Once I do get it started and it is time consuming. The car runs fine. Then when I shut it off the same thing occurs.

Ed:eek1:

[Chris Burns]

I go with the accumulator on this one.:wrenchin:

[sean]

Sean

This is a start up issue. Once I do get it started and it is time consuming. The car runs fine. Then when I shut it off the same thing occurs.

Ed:eek1:

So it would seem a certain amount of rest pressure is not there, speculative of course. So it could be:

Check valve in fuel pump, common problem in early "long neck" style pumps (if it's an original pump Id check this out)
Fuel accumulator (Most likely to me)
PPR oring in the fuel distributor (if it's never been messed with it is probably not this)

Be nice if you could get a set of fuel pressure gauges on your system but if the fuel accumulator has never been changed I'd start there.

[Elvis]

if you had the fuel system apart I'd check all the fuel hoses again.
do you need pictures to compare them ?

especially the hoses form the WUR and from the FV could do something weird like that.

I'd try this - take off te fuel filter and have sombody start the car while you press the
air metering plate down a bit.


I don't believe in the accumulator as the problem would only occur when the car is still
warm. it should start right away when cold.

[sean]

I don't believe in the accumulator as the problem would only occur when the car is still
warm. it should start right away when cold.

unless the rubber diaphragm inside the accumulator has failed and now starting the car requires waiting on the accumulator to fill up with gas.

[David T]

You have to check all of the systems that operate during start-up and warm-up. Start with the CSV and move on to the vacuum advance and the CPR. A bad accumulator will only affect hot restart. Try the plug swap to force the CSV to operate next time you start cold. Should help it start right up but as soon as you can you MUST reverse the plugs or it will stall out from too much fuel.
David Teitelbaum

[Kenny_Z]

The oring in the pressure regulator was the source of my starting problem after the accumulator was replaced. I nicked the new one when I installed it. It is extremely easy to mess up that oring so even if you think that isn't the problem check it. I went through so many different things before I changed that 5 cent part.

[Mike C.]

unless the rubber diaphragm inside the accumulator has failed and now starting the car requires waiting on the accumulator to fill up with gas.

Exactly what happened to mine. Took forever to crank over when cold OR warm.

[jmrydholm]

I just recently had a similar problem. What was frustrating was the amount of parts the car needed prior and there was still a simliar sputtering/stalling problem. Turns out one of the rubber gaskets wasn't put back on by a local mechanic on the pressure regulator plunger, inside the fuel distributor. Thanks to the efforts of friends and various mechanics, mine has a new fuel pump, SS lines, injectors, rebuilt distributor, cold start valve, and accumulator. I was pretty surprised.

I'd almost wondered if I should go carb. out of sheer frustration but with so much $$$ into the K-jet system since buying her, that would be a waste...

[Elvis]

What could also be is the ignition.
if the bypass relay for the resistor doesn't do his job and/or the igintion coil
can't put out enough voltage to ignite the gas.

Or what could also be - if the distributor was out - when it's back in one tooth off,
it would run, but startup could be harder as the gap between cap and rotor
is larger.

[John U]

I had a similar problem...seems the CSV connection was intermittent...sometimes it was fine, other times I had a very hard start as you describe.
I cleaned and adjusted the CSV connector and it was fine after that.

[BTTF-1]

Thanks guys for all the input. This really helps.

Ed:bigclap:

[sean]

Thanks guys for all the input. This really helps.

Ed:bigclap:

Well please be sure to report your findings.