ok, here's the deal. '71 maverick with a 250. I think it's a carter rbs carb on it. The car started fine a few weeks ago and idled on it's own and everything was great. It ran about 4 hours that day while I played with it. Now it won't start. The battery is good and it cranks but doesn't turn over. When I spray some ether based starting fluid into the carb it will turn over for a second and then die (but not before a cool flame shoots out of the top of the carb). It seems like a I'm having a problem getting fuel to it, but I don't know what could have changed since the last time when it started fine. It makes me think it is a carb issue because I don't know that much about them. Someone rebuilt the carb not too long ago too. I'm kinda lost. I'll go play with it some more - if you have any ideas hit me up.
if you are..." kinda lost."...DON"T PLAY with it... take the fuel filter off/out and check it... Frank
if it will run when you spray it then it will flame up / back fire out the carb so check if it is getting gas to the carb and check the engine timing and check the spark plug wires ?
ok. I put a new fuel filter on - it was pretty cheap so I figured I might as well try it. Still won't start. It gives one mighty roar from the ether stuff and then craps out. It has new spark plug wires on it. I'm gonna go check and make sure fuel is coming out of the line...
I've got a quarter of a tank in there. when I disconnected the fuel line that goes from my tank to the pump gas leaked out. this makes me think that there is either a problem with the pump or the line from the pump to the carb (no fuel leaked when I disconnected the fuel inlet line). I think I might have blown out my starter now tho cuz it just makes an awful grinding noise when I try to crank it even with the ether spray in the carb. I guess i'll go test that now ha.
What you descibed could very well be an ignition problem too. Pull a plug, ground it, then crank the engine and see what the spark looks like.
I believe it's inline. it screws into the front end of the carb and sits on the outside of it. The fuel inlet line attaches directly to it. Is what what you mean?
I've got the battery charging for the night and then I will try that. Thanks for the help guys, I'm going to sleep for the night but have the whole day off of work tomorrow to work on it. Days off feel so much better when you don't get paid for your job - yay for internships! I'll keep you posted. Thnx again.
alright, here's a weird update.. I was getting suction from the fuel pump when I tried to crank it but no gas coming out of the gas inlet that attaches to my fuel filter. I blew air through my lines back to the tank. I now have gas coming out of the fuel inlet (don't know if anything I did helped or if it was just magic). however the car still doesn't start. It only revs with ether starting fluid sprayed into it. it's a new fuel filter so i'm ruling that out as a possible problem. you think it could be a problem with my float or something worse? how do I check to see what the problem is on the carb without just rebuilding it? ugh
try tapping the carb, near where the fuel line enters it, with the handle of a screwdriver. The float inside may be stuck and not letting fuel get into the bowl.
