Car Problem, Help Help Help! pleasee ^-^?

Question

Okay so whats wrong with my car. I go to start the car, the engine turns over and everything like its trying to start, but it doesnt, then randomly after waiting like a half hour it will start, but then if you stop to say, get gas, after youve been driving it for a while, it wont start until you wait a half hour to an hour. PLEASE HELP ME! ^-^ any input is welcome

oh and my car is a 71' ford galaxy :p

Answer 1

An engine needs only a few things to run. Fire, Fuel, and Air. In this case your starter is working and you are lacking either fire from the plugs, fuel from the tank, or air from the breather. Try these things.

1. Take of your breather cover and check the air filter. If it's dirty change it. Yes, they do get so dirty that they'll prevent you from starting your car. The combustion chamber needs air for the spark plug to properly ignite fuel.

2. Take out your spark plugs "ONE AT A TIME" if you take it out put it back like you found it. DO NOT get the spark plug wires mixed up. If the plug is burnt up and black it probably needs changed.

3. If your mechanically inclined you can try changing your fuel filter. Past that it could be a problem with your carberator, or electronic fuel injection depending on which you have.

In any case I recommend you pick up a Haynes manual for your vehicle. They sell them at Auto Zone for $15 and there is an entire trouble shooting guide and step by step instrutions on how to do just about anything by yourself and you won't have to be very mechanically inclined at all. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 2

It's either lack of spark or fuel. You can tell if it isn't getting fuel by removing the top of the air cleaner to see if fuel shoots into the carb when the pedal is pressed, and you will probably have a strong odor of gas if it is present.

The easiest way to check for spark is to clamp an old plug onto a metal part in the engine bay, pull one of the plug wires off, and install it on the old plug. Crank it over to see if there is spark.

If it lacks spark, it could be the coil or points. The points have a ground wire that must be tight.

The resistor someone mentioned above is the ballast resisitor, which decreases the voltage going to the coil after the car starts. This is done by the wiring going to the small terminals of the starter solenoid.

I'm sure if I was there I could pinpoint this problem in a few minutes.

Answer 3

It sounds like your carberator is flooding. There is a rubber diaphram inside that may be leaking when it is warm. Also, your CHOKE butterfly may also be sticking closed. When it doesn't start, take off the air cleaner and look at the choke plate and see if its open or closed. Also notice if you smell gas. If it is flooded, you could try starting with the gas pedal to the floor (dont pump it) and see if it starts.

Last, you could have electrical problems. The ballast resistor may be bad. That alows full voltage to your coil while cranking. You may want to see if your getting spark when its trying to warm start.

Hope this helps

Answer 4

Could be several things....carbourator (flooding)....float stuck
.....fuel pump worn out
.....ignition switch worn out.
.....coil shot
.....bad plugs and wires
.....ignition rotor
Basicaly it's either fuel or spark problem.
Based on your brief description I'd guess carbourator or fuel pump. There is an old trick you can do when an engine floods. Remove the carbourator breather (air filter) and stick a screw driver down the throat to hold the flap open. Then hold the gas pedal to the floor and turn the engine over.

Answer 5

Could be several things,sounds like loss of spark/ignition. When it turns over but doesnt start pull a spark plug wire and insert a screw driver,have someone turn over while holding the shaft of screwdriver close to metal contact,if no spark is present have your ignition coil tested,pull distributtor cap and inspect rotor and point breaker.

Answer 6

I don't know what it is called but I had this trouble as well.
There is a resistor (the name I cant remember) it is ceramic and usually is attached to the firewall. When it gets cracked through age, it stops the vehicle when it gets hot, and will let the car start again when it cools off. It is quite annoying try to figure this out. So ask your mechanic to test the ceramic resistor mounted on the firewall.

Answer 7

Ask DODGE MAN he is good, find out how you can email him.

Here is my share my friend, I have read that new engines automatically turns of when the oil censor detects low pressure, fuel will be cut off that causes engine shitting down. That is for new engine. Is yours a new one?

Hope this gives little light on the matter.

May somebody give you the right help.
Good luck.

Answer 8

I would check the fuel pressure to make sure you are getting gas to the cylinders.

Also check spark .

Answer 9

Time to change the car, it is more than 30 years. Beyond Economical Repair!

Answer 10

Sounds like it's either a starter, or alternator problem. Meaning, one or the other is dead, and draining your battery. Take it to a mechanic, and have him check it out. Figure at least $100.00 to replace either one. Do it soon before your battery gets sucked dry.