Hot Start Problem - But only yesterday in very hot sun!

[Hulm1]

I wonder if someone might help with this?

My Stag has always started absolutely on the button when warm, or hot. It takes a few cranks usually when cold though. Yesterday, however, having sat all morning in the very hot direct sun, it really didn't want to start. Once going, it drove absolutely fine with the exception that the idle was very low. I repeated this two or three times. I then left it with the bonnet up after lunch and then when I came to restart it later....no problem. Again today with much lower ambient temperature I have no problem.

I am wondering if this is a hot coil ? It was very hot. I am hoping the combined symptoms of hard to start and very low idle (nearly stalling) might provide a clue?

Thank you
Quentin

[wilf]

More likely fuel boiling off in the carbies.

If it only does it in heat like yesterday's I suggest you have a one or two day a year problem, lol.

[StagJonno]

When starting from cold, do you wait a few seconds in the IGN position? I used to find it took several cranks until I read (on here, I think) that the carbs are probably empty due to underbonnet temperatures vaporising the fuel in the carb float chambers. I now wait a few seconds until the fuel pump stops ticking (you can also observe the dimming pulses on the seat belt warning or other warning bulbs). Result - starts first time on the button .

Jonno

[mole42]

Check the temperature compensators on the carburetters. They stick.

[Hulm1]

Hi. Thanks for the responses. Jonno, yes I do wait a few seconds while I put my belt on starting, but still needs to wait a bit. Mole42; I have not checked the temp. compensators. I did read about that somewhere. I will take a look. Is it easy? Cheers

[Tdm]

Personally can't see high outside temperatures being a cause of poor starting.
My car sits in an open car park in direct sunlight every day (and it's been in the 40's Centigrade recently),
but she always starts first time and ticks over fine. I do have a set routine when starting her from cold though which is :-

1) Turn key to activate all circuits and wait for fuel pump to stop ticking
2) At same time press Accelerator pedal whilst pulling choke out to 3/4 position
3) Turn key to "start" position to fire starter
4) As soon as she fires up push choke in to 1/4 position so that it is just increasing tickover without actually "choking"
5) Drive the car and after about a mile push choke in all the way.

Once normal engine temperature has been achieved, don't need choke again that day unless left for several hours.

Each Stag though can be different and have it's own starting & running idiosynchrases, and the fact that my car has been living in a Hot climate for 12 years now means it has probably adapted to the heat as I have.

[roverv8stag]

Each Stag though can be different and have it's own starting & running idiosynchrases, and the fact that my car has been living in a Hot climate for 12 years now means it has probably adapted to the heat as I have.

LOL I've been a mech tech for 35 years and it still astounds me how mechanical and electronic gysmos "learn" how to behave. Im convinced they do and depending on the operator talking to them and cajoling them they behave nicely or nasty. The lighter side to temperament lol.. Maybe the symptoms are temperament related rather than temperature LOL.