Hard starting in hot weather

ausmad · 09-02-2009, 09:31 AM

Hopefully someone can help

I am having a hard time restarting my car when the engine is at normal operating temp and the weather is over 90 degrees

The car was running fine from cold until I shut the car off to run into a store, about 5 miles from home.

Not even 5 minutes later, I went to restart the car to go home when the car would not start. It seemed like the carb was not getting fuel.

I have a glass type fuel filter and I could see bubbles in the fuel looking like it was coming from the fuel pump. Not sure if the fuel was boiling in the fuel line.

I sat there for about 10 minutes then the car started up again with no problem.

This has now happened 3 times in the last week.

Any suggestions what may be causing this, or what I should look for.

My car is a 67 coupe
289 engine with a edlebrock 4 bbl intake, and Holly 4 bbl carb, stock fuel pump.

Is it possible I need a carb spacer between the intake manifold and carb?

Thanks for the help

Teebone · 09-02-2009, 10:30 AM

probably vapor lock, the fuel lines are running to close to the exhaust manifold or the heads..next time it happens pour some cold water over the fuel pump if the problem goes away then for sure it is vapor lock.

68_Jcode · 09-02-2009, 12:09 PM

Definately make sure the fuel line is not routed near heat sources including and especially the radiator hose/thermostat neck on the intake. I would also check to make sure your choke is adjusted properly and coming off when it should.

zray · 09-02-2009, 12:17 PM

what is your starting procedure under the "hot" conditions ?

It sometimes helps to just hold the throttle wide open and crank the starter for 4 - 5 seconds.

Z. Ray

musgofasta · 09-02-2009, 01:03 PM

Does your starter crank?

If it has trouble cranking when hot = timing is off, probably too advanced

If cranks and cranks but won't fire = vapor lock. I had good luck with an Edelbrock heat spacer. Really decreased my vapor lock problems.

crey · 09-02-2009, 01:16 PM

I have the same problem with my 66 (289 2bbl). If I park it for 5 minutes on a hot day it just cranks over. I don't think my problem is vapor lock though. Instead the gas in the carburator bowl starts to boil causing the carburator to flood. I was thinking the engine might be running too hot because I could hear the coolant bubble a bit. Fortunately it does start right up when I hold the throttle open and clear the gas out. Oddly enough it never acts up when the wife drives it. Must be a girls car.

AMR66 · 09-02-2009, 03:09 PM

I had the same problem in my 66 289. What I did; I put a 1" phenolic spacer under the carb. I bought a 800 C.A. battery from Walmart. I bought a NEW stock starter from USA Industries that turns the engine over 3-4 times faster than any other stock starter. The starter was about the same price as you'd pay at Advance about $39.00. The battery was $72.00 and the spacer was about $30-$40. Now when I would normally have a hard start problem, the starter turns the engine over so fast it starts up in 2-3 seconds!

zray · 09-02-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMR66

I "............... I bought a NEW stock starter from USA Industries that turns the engine over 3-4 times faster than any other stock starter. .........................."

did you buy direct from them ? Can't find contact info on their web page.

Z. Ray

AMR66 · 09-02-2009, 04:09 PM

No I didn't. I bought it from a local Mustang supplier. It looks like you can buy it direct from them though according to their web-site. Or if you want the Mustang guy's # I can get that for you. I can say this much about the starter. I have never had a starter that would turn the engine over like this one. When the engine is cold, you just touch the key and it's started, there's no cranking at all!

nymustang · 09-02-2009, 04:20 PM

I would also check your points. I had a similar problem starting and needed to replace the points.

AMR66 · 09-02-2009, 04:25 PM

If your points are bad it would cause hard starting all the time not just when it's hot!

Lea123 · 09-03-2009, 01:00 AM

When a coil get old it will give you anguish when it's hot. A young coil will not misbehave when it's hot. Old coils give you starting problems on hot days.

68RCodeConv · 09-03-2009, 09:09 AM

DB Electrical has mini starters for about $60. Cranks my 347 (16 degrees initial timing) over just fine even when hot. The stock starter could not do that.

If you have hood clearance problems there is a 3/8" insulating spacer made by Edelbrock. Part #9266 from Summit, $20.