Vehicle won't start. What do you check first?

[Bayou Tiger]

Vehicle won't start. What do you check first?


Your wallet!

 

[Myles]

Why do you have a bucket truck?

Buddy was moving and sold it to me cheap. Used it to paint the columns on my house and to trim some branches. It does come in handy. When it starts.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Vehicle won't start. What do you check first?


Your wallet!

Yourself.




Before you wreck yourself.

 

[Myles]

You're on the right track. A squirt of starter fluid will get it to kick if there is spark present, if that doesn't get it to at least fire up for a few seconds you have a spark issue.

Do you have a friend that knows how to check a spark plug wire for juice?

Thanks. I'll check the wires next. Being a V8, I thought it would still fire up if one wire was bad, but I'm not extremely experienced.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Buddy was moving and sold it to me cheap.

Okay, so NOW we gotta ask, what was your buddy doing with a bucket truck?

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

Buddy was moving and sold it to me cheap. Used it to paint the columns on my house and to trim some branches. It does come in handy. When it starts.

Just was curious. They are very handy

 

[The Derski]

Check the tailpipe for a potato.

 

[Bayou Tiger]

Check the tailpipe for a potato.

....and if potato missing, then simply add one.

 

[Rex Racer]

Stick a screwdriver in the plug wire end?

Make sure the screwdriver has a rubber handle

 

[JuiceTheGator]

You're on the right track. A squirt of starter fluid will get it to kick if there is spark present, if that doesn't get it to at least fire up for a few seconds you have a spark issue.

Do you have a friend that knows how to check a spark plug wire for juice?

I can do THAT myself!

 

[Bayou Tiger]

 

[Rex Racer]

Thanks. I'll check the wires next. Being a V8, I thought it would still fire up if one wire was bad, but I'm not extremely experienced.

It would likely run (rough) on 7 cylinders.

Go easy on the ether (starter fluid), that shit is volatile as hell and and too much could damage the motor................ or you

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Make sure the screwdriver has a rubber handle

Nah, jest holdit witha rag (can't tell you how many family members I have seen doing just this very thing)

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Whatta tease! I was expecting some hilarious consequences

 

[fknhippie]

It would likely run (rough) on 7 cylinders.

Go easy on the ether (starter fluid), that shit is volatile as hell and and too much could damage the motor................ or you

Don't listen to Rex, he's full of shit. Dump the whole fucking can in the carb and crank it over.

 

[Bayou Tiger]

Whatta tease! I was expecting some hilarious consequences

 

[fknhippie]

I wouldn't be following that guy very far.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Thanks. I'll check the wires next. Being a V8, I thought it would still fire up if one wire was bad, but I'm not extremely experienced.

How long did you crank it?
I am not a fan of ether on an old engine.

Remove the breather cover and look down inside the carb while you have a buddy push the gas pedal to the floor. You should be able to see a spray off gas in the carb and smell the fuel.
It's probably old and the floats may have dried up a bit keep cranking and pumping the gas.
You may need to hook up jumper cables to crank it enough.
If you do see smell gas, it may be flooded...? Push the gas pedal all the way to the floor and crank it over.

If you cannot confirm any gas at that point, give it a squirt of starter fluid and see if it starts up or at least tries to.
Sometimes this can be enough to prime the bowls full of fuel to get/keep it running.
If it stumbling after you are feed it SF, it may be bad gas, week fuel pump, old fuel filter or a combination.

If it is doing nothing but cranking after confirming fuel flow and or SF, pull a spark plug wire, stick a rubber handled screw driver in the boot and hold it close to the exhaust manifold while a buddy cranks it over. Hold it very close and on whichever side (driver or passenger) is not in direct sunlight. You should see blue spark arcing between the screwdriver and exhaust manifold. If not try another plug wire. Still nothing...try the coil wire which is the one feeding the center of the distributor. If you have spark there, replace cap, rotor, wires, plugs. If no spark there replace the coil as a start.

 

[Gatorchip]

Check the blinker fluid level.

 

[PEOPLESCHICKEN]

Check the tailpipe for a potato.

This isn't one of your late night escapades