Trouble Starting
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From: Coeur d' Alene, ID
Trouble Starting
This is my first post and I hope it works. ! have a 1988 Dodge Ram Van B250 5.2 Liter V8 318 - Cu in. 90,000 miles or so. Van runs great once it is started. Starts pretty easy when cold, but once warmed up, I need starter fluid to get it going again and even then, it is a very rough start. I can hear the fuel pump going and fuel does get to carburetor, but unsure if it is enough. Fuel pump is located in the fuel tank. I have replaced the coil, cap, rotor, and fuel filter so far. It does not always happen however. Sometimes it starts great even when warm. Someone from Les Schwab Tires said that Dodge Rams built around my year had carburetor problems and that I will need to replace that. It has spark, and does seem to be a fuel issue of some sort. Does anyone have any history with this.
I don't have a history with this particular issue on this particular van -- but I have done some work on carbs in the '70s and '80s -- it's been a while. From your post it seems that it's a lean condition and not a rich condition that keeps it from starting. I am going to assume that it's not being flooded by a stuck float. From that starting point, here are a couple of places to start:
Take the breather off when it is hot and not starting and looking into the carb. Does the accelerator pump squirt gas into the venturi when you pump the petal or work the linkage?
If can see or hear gas being squirted, then see if pumping the petal 4 or 5 times helps it start when it is hot. If this helps it to start, you may have a vacuum issue that only shows up when the engine is hot. Check the vacuum pressure with a gauge when it is cold and when it is hot -- pull the coil wire to keep it from starting during the test. If your pressures are vastly different, you need to check the vacuum lines or look for a stuck EGR valve.
Now back to the accelerator pump -- If there is no gas being squirted or gas for only a few pumps, you may have a problem of the fuel vaporizing when the engine is hot when it's not running. Look for places where your fuel line is too close to a heat source and do what you need to do to shield or insulate the fuel line from the heat.
Hope this helps.
Take the breather off when it is hot and not starting and looking into the carb. Does the accelerator pump squirt gas into the venturi when you pump the petal or work the linkage?
If can see or hear gas being squirted, then see if pumping the petal 4 or 5 times helps it start when it is hot. If this helps it to start, you may have a vacuum issue that only shows up when the engine is hot. Check the vacuum pressure with a gauge when it is cold and when it is hot -- pull the coil wire to keep it from starting during the test. If your pressures are vastly different, you need to check the vacuum lines or look for a stuck EGR valve.
Now back to the accelerator pump -- If there is no gas being squirted or gas for only a few pumps, you may have a problem of the fuel vaporizing when the engine is hot when it's not running. Look for places where your fuel line is too close to a heat source and do what you need to do to shield or insulate the fuel line from the heat.
Hope this helps.