Won't start when semi-warm.

[Careful34]

Starts ok cold, starts ok warm, but if the temp gauge is just in the "blue" region she won't start about 1/2 the time. I've tried keeping the pedal to the floor, manually closing the choke, adding gas down the carb. Only thing that really works is letting it sit for about 15 minutes. This is a real pain, and fairly embrassing in some instances. Choke? jets? something else? Thanks for any suggestions!

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Once it is warm and won't start, how is the engine turning over? Slower and harder than when cold? Out of time could also cause the problem.

[shadowfax101]

Some poeple say that when a Igniton Mod is going out the heat can affect them. Does it seem like you are not getting spark? If so I would have to say change that first, if you have spark then I have no idea with out knowing what you are driving...

[andy d]

next time it happens try this, take off the top of the air cleaner and wedge the choke flap open with a screwdriver or something.hold pedal to the floor, try to start. if it catches, then back off the choke adjustment at the earliest convience. also when was the last time the air filter was replaced and the plugs etc changed?

[Careful34]

It's an 89 wag. Stone stock. And it spins around fine warm or cold. though if I crank it for too long, a minute or so, it will start to do a crank, crank, crank, ugh sort of thing that I'm not sure what it is, but when I hear it I know I might as well get comfortable for a while. The ign. mod., plugs, and cap have all been replace with in the past year. It's done this with the air filter off.

What I think is happening is if the engines warmed up enough to open the choke, but not enough to really warm up the block and intake manifold, I flood it giving it the double pump before turning the key, but if it's not warmed up enough to open the choke, it won't start with out a pump or two. It's like the difference of a couple of minutes of driving between starting OK and not. My wife drives it more than I do and knows not to shut it off early. What exactly is flooding anyway?

[andy d]

flooding is too much gas in the cylinders. the choke reduces the air intake volume. ideal air/fuel mix is sumpn like 14.7 to 1 by volume. a cold engine needs a richer mixture to light off. too much gas, not enough air in the chamber and the mixture wont ignite. BTW, the engine should be warm enough after 5 minutes, esp in the summer, that the choke should have opened. check the choke pull off linkage for sticking,the choke stove stove line,the pre-heater gizmos in the aircleaner horn and the foil tube that goes down to the right exh manifold. all that mickey mouse stuff has to do with proper choke operation. does the rig have a 180' thermostat? i have screwed around with automatic chokes for most of my shadetree career, they are a PITA! for a brief period, my daughter was driving the wag to school. i rescued her more than once after she had flooded it.believe it not, what cured the problem was replacing the fan belts. the old ones slipped and the electrical system was a volt low. as a result,the ignition wouldnt have a decent spark, esp, when cold and wet. im not suggesting that this is your problem, im just trying to get across that your problem may not have a single obvious solution. ps, it was dumb luck, not diagnostic expertise that led me to the solution :D