Carburetor Problem

MICAH ERIN SHARP

MEMBER
1979 FORD RANGER
2.0L
V8
RWD
AUTOMATIC
80,000 MILES

I do not know much of anything about fixing trucks, but I am trying to learn. I bought this truck it has a known leak in the reservoir of the carburetor, so that if you do not start the truck for more than a few days you have to put a little gas in the carburetor to get it started.
For awhile now I have not had to do that because I started it up often enough.
But this last week I let it sit for over a week, and it would not start. I put gas in the carburetor, but because I do not know what I am doing I probably added too much, at least 1 1/2 cups, maybe 2 cups of gas and then tried to start it while pumping the accelerator. The truck wont start. I guessed that I flooded the carburetor and engine. I waited all afternoon, trying to start it every couple of hours or so, and even waited until the next day, but it still wont start.
The engine turns like normal it just does not start up. The battery is good I just replaced it yesterday.
Could I have gotten my spark plugs wet?
Do you think I just need a new carburetor?
I have already ordered another carburetor since it needed replacing anyway.

Any ideas would be awesome!
Thanks

8 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,973 POSTS

Hi , yes the gas you added was too much, please remove all of the spark plugs and replace them, also you should change the oil as it has too much fuel in the oil. Once you get the new carburetor make sure you use a new base gasket. please get back to me when you install the parts and check the oil.

here are some links that will help you:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-spark-plugs

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-engine-oil-and-filter

Please get back to me

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Monday, April 25th, 2016 AT 1:46 PM

MICAH ERIN SHARP

MEMBER
10 POSTS

Ok, great. I've already bought new spark plugs and spark plugs wires actually, so I'll get them in there and let you know how it goes. Great tip about the oil as well. I'll go ahead and change the oil as well.

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Monday, April 25th, 2016 AT 3:05 PM

KEN L

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Good to hear please let me know how it goes

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Monday, April 25th, 2016 AT 3:56 PM

MICAH ERIN SHARP

MEMBER
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So I changed the spark plugs and spark plug wires (because they were pulling apart). I let it all dry out first before installing them, because the plugs when I very wet with gasoline when I took them out. I changed the oil and the oil filter, and the truck started like a gem!
One thing though--I only drove it around for a couple of minutes-- but there was a small amount of smoke coming off the spark plugs after I turned it off and looked under the hood.
Should I be worried about this? (And in case you ask, yes I did put oil back in after draining it out).

Thanks

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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 7:43 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,973 POSTS

Hey,

Good job putting the oil back in :) a small amount of smoke is okay it should go away after a short time of driving. If it doesn't let me know because you may have a valve cover gasket leaking. I am here for you anytime so please feel free to reach out

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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 7:59 AM

MICAH ERIN SHARP

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Thank you!

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Thursday, April 28th, 2016 AT 10:22 AM

MICAH ERIN SHARP

MEMBER
10 POSTS

Hi again,
I have another scenario for you.
Since the last time we talked I installed a new carburetor (myself :) But didn't adjust it, because I'm pretty sure that's beyond my skill set. I drove it around for a day or two before getting it adjusted and started having trouble with it stalling when he truck came to an idle--and not being easy to start again once it stalled. It would only start happening however, once I had driven for about 20 minutes or so. I'm guessing that meant it was associated with the engine getting good and warmed up. So perhaps you could say it was an issue with the "hot" idle.

I assumed all of this was simply because I was driving the truck around without the new carburetor adjusted.
But. I took the truck to a mechanic who works on classics for adjusting, and he went ahead and adjusted it.
When I got the truck back it was able to idle much better. But I seem to be having the same problem with starting. The truck starts fine when it's a cold start. But when I've driven it for 20-30 minutes it get's harder and harder to start each time I stop somewhere and get back in the truck to go again. It turns over, but just doesn't fire up unless I really pump the gas. And once it does finally start after several tries it takes me revving it to keep it there and prevent it from dying. I'm super close to flooding it though when I'm doing this, so it's obviously not good.

Do you have any ideas?

FYI--the mechanic who worked on it said it was installed well. Although I did leave off a little cap on one of the unused vacuum ports that I didn't notice. So I drove it for 2 days with this open.
At the time I installed the carburetor I also changed the air filter, PCV valve, and fuel filter. FYI

Thanks!
Micah

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Sunday, June 5th, 2016 AT 6:44 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Please when you have a new question re-post it instead of coming back like this. The problem could be what is in pic for hard starting hot. Also check canister purge valve, it may be open at idle which it shouldn't be and letting to much fumes inside engine. Finally check to see if choke plate on carb is closed when you try to start HOT. It should be wide open, it 's at very top of carb under air cleaner.

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