[evalayCap]

1985 Prelude with 78000 miles (yes, that's it), been sitting unused for ~5 years. Drained and replaced the gas, replaced both fuel filters, spark plugs, battery, fuel pump, and fuel cutoff relay.

The car will crank but it won't start. Only way I can get it to start is by spraying gas directly into the carbs, but when I stop adding gas, the car will not hold idle and immediately stalls.

I seriously hope the carbs aren't bad because there are two of them, they are rather small, and they're side-draft. This screams of either a) tons of money or b) royal PITA.

Anyone have any other ideas?

[roundman]

bobine (dutch word)

[crycleascentyv]

The first thing that comes to mind is clogged jets in the carburetors.

I had a similar experience once with a motorcycle. It was a 1978 Honda that hadn't been run for years that I was fixing up. Couldn't get it to start at all until I took the Carb apart. I found the jets were completely clogged. Once I had them cleaned out, the bike would start.

[Vmysobfi]

Dutch -- coil? The ignition coil? The car seems electrically sound, like I said, it will start when I artificially add gas to the motor.

I'm not too hip on cars though, perhaps you mean some other coil?

Dracom -- how hard/how expensive was it to fix that carb? Can you clean it out without rebuilding it?

[VeniHemealm]

I am with draco's ... if it aint misfiring than its in the fueling of the cylinders..

[Katrinsitter]

Dracom -- how hard/how expensive was it to fix that carb? Can you clean it out without rebuilding it?

For my carb, it was dirt cheap to fix. Just popped off the bowl (Fuel reservoir for the carb), and the jet simply unscrewed from the housing. Once out, I just had to soak it in a good solvent from the auto parts store. I did need to use a needle to clean out one or two of the jet holes, had to be careful not to scratch the metal though.


However, I don't know how your carb is built so I don't know if there would be any additional costs involved. Some designs of carbs may need to be re-adjusted and synced (if multiple carbs are used). I was lucky because the jet screwed into the housing in a fixed position, so it didn't need to be adjusted since the fuel metering was adjusted by the valve needle.

[sabbixsweraco]

For my carb, it was dirt cheap to fix. Just popped off the bowl (Fuel reservoir for the carb), and the jet simply unscrewed from the housing. Once out, I just had to soak it in a good solvent from the auto parts store. I did need to use a needle to clean out one or two of the jet holes, had to be careful not to scratch the metal though.


However, I don't know how your carb is built so I don't know if there would be any additional costs involved. Some designs of carbs may need to be re-adjusted and synced (if multiple carbs are used). I was lucky because the jet screwed into the housing in a fixed position, so it didn't need to be adjusted since the fuel metering was adjusted by the valve needle.

Whilst he has the fuel bowl off might be a good idea to clean that out as well, cos they tend to collect all the crap that comes from the fuel tank, and that helps to clog the jets too.

[BUMbaronos]

Check to see if fuel is reaching the carbs? As long as you are adding gas manually, and it only dies once you stop, check to make sure that the pump is getting power and that the carbs are getting fuel from the gas tank.

Carbs might need to be adjusted? There should be a screw on there that allows the flow of gasoline. Maybe open that up? Maybe someone closed them off and ran all the gas through the carbs before they let it sit.

[swissloveone]

I'd say head gasket.

[jobsfancy]

id say the carb jets to

[swoluelvede]

Check to see if fuel is reaching the carbs? As long as you are adding gas manually, and it only dies once you stop, check to make sure that the pump is getting power and that the carbs are getting fuel from the gas tank.

Carbs might need to be adjusted? There should be a screw on there that allows the flow of gasoline. Maybe open that up? Maybe someone closed them off and ran all the gas through the carbs before they let it sit.

Is it normal to be able to access this screw without removing the carbs?

[soydaykam]

when ya push the peddle cable real fast does the aceletertor pump spray gas in the carb?

[irridgita]

when ya push the aceleter cable real fast does the aceletertor pump spray gas in the carb?

Not sure how I'd check, when I'm spraying gas into the carbs artificially, the engine doesn't respond to the accelerator pedal.

[Pelefaifs]

either do it buy hand or have a buddy push the acerater peddle down fast as u look in carb

[scoundtrack]

Sounds like a carb issue to me. I've only had to do this with a lawn mower (all of my cars have been fuel-injected) so I don't know how much help I could be. I just took it apart and sprayed carb cleaner all over the place. Works like a charm now. Took less than an hour IIRC.

[AttableBewNaw]

yeah i used to take carbs aprt very slowly and take pics as u go to see how it goes back togther then id use a guitar string to clean the jets alos make sure ya float is good and not full with gas

[KRbGA0Bg]

either do it buy hand or have a buddy push the acerater peddle down fast as u look in carb

The carbs are side-draft, I can't look down into them.

[RSAccountssy]

can ya use a mirrior to look in them?

[86GlSqSK]

yeah i used to take carbs aprt very slowly and take pics as u go to see how it goes back togther then id use a guitar string to clean the jets alos make sure ya float is good and not full with gas

That reminds me of something else to check. When the bowl is full, the float closes a valve. That valve may need to be checked to see if it's stuck closed.

[gIWnXYkw]

it aint getting fuel for some reason could be fule filter could be a line that broke dry rotted after being in storage so long could be fuel pump could be float valvle not allowing fuel in bowl

--- Post Update ---

ps could aslo be cloged jets in carb