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Cold GQ

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:37 am
by HellfisH
Since the cold weather has hit us in Melbourne my GQ has been running like a pig, only happens in the morning when the car is cold, it coughs, splutters bunny hops a little for about 10 min until it's warm, after that it's good all day. It's a 1990 SWB straight petrol any idea's on what would be causing this would be great.

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:29 am
by 351ciofgrunt
If its already running on the lean side then the denser cold air will make things worse.

What do your plugs look like? If the tips are white then you're running lean.

While you've got the plugs out, check the gaps they might be too big.

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:36 am
by mkpatrol
Check your Auto choke, it might need re adjusting & a clean. I used to have a customer that had one & I used to adjust it before every winter & summer as the one setting would not go all year.

It also used to cake up with a lot of carbon causing issues.

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:38 pm
by brad-chevlux
auto choke will be the problem. it only a mater of removing the air cleaner and loosening the choke heater screws to adjust it. you'll need to put a little more tension on the choke.

Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:37 am
by mkpatrol
brad-chevlux wrote:auto choke will be the problem. it only a mater of removing the air cleaner and loosening the choke heater screws to adjust it. you'll need to put a little more tension on the choke.
This is correct but you must do it dead cold in the morning as thats when you need the choke to be adjusted correctly.

Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:02 am
by HellfisH
brad-chevlux wrote:auto choke will be the problem. it only a mater of removing the air cleaner and loosening the choke heater screws to adjust it. you'll need to put a little more tension on the choke.
Thanks for the feed back guys, could you give me a description on how to loosen the choke heater screws to adjust it.
Cheers.

Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 2:19 pm
by dano80
Hey Mate, I normally let mine warm up for about 5 - 10 mins.
Do you do this?

I try to do this because I don't like to drive with a cold engine. It's not normally a great thing to do.

Cheers, Dano.

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 1:02 pm
by HellfisH
Yeah, tried warm up for 10 to 15 and then drive for 10 (putting up with the coughing and splattering) and then she's all good.

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 6:18 pm
by brad-chevlux
HellfisH wrote:
brad-chevlux wrote:auto choke will be the problem. it only a mater of removing the air cleaner and loosening the choke heater screws to adjust it. you'll need to put a little more tension on the choke.
Thanks for the feed back guys, could you give me a description on how to loosen the choke heater screws to adjust it.
Cheers.

simple mater of a screw driver and a 10mm spanner. the 10mm spanner is to remove the cleaner housing.

from the firewall side of the carby you'll see a round black cover held on with 3 screws. loosen the screws just enough to be able rotate the black cover, put a whiteout mark across it before you move anything.
It should have the words rich/lean with a arrows showing which way to turn it.
You'll want to move it in the 'rich' direction, i suggest since you haven't done this before that you move 2mm at a time and work with it over a few days until you are happy.

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 7:28 pm
by HellfisH
brad-chevlux wrote:
HellfisH wrote:
brad-chevlux wrote:auto choke will be the problem. it only a mater of removing the air cleaner and loosening the choke heater screws to adjust it. you'll need to put a little more tension on the choke.
Thanks for the feed back guys, could you give me a description on how to loosen the choke heater screws to adjust it.
Cheers.

simple mater of a screw driver and a 10mm spanner. the 10mm spanner is to remove the cleaner housing.

from the firewall side of the carby you'll see a round black cover held on with 3 screws. loosen the screws just enough to be able rotate the black cover, put a whiteout mark across it before you move anything.
It should have the words rich/lean with a arrows showing which way to turn it.
You'll want to move it in the 'rich' direction, i suggest since you haven't done this before that you move 2mm at a time and work with it over a few days until you are happy.
CHEERS :)