80's starting problems

["Rob P" <fristpenny@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I will go along with the EFI people on this one. I've had mine for less than 
a week, and it's given me trouble starting, but it runs well and got 18-19 
mpg last tankful. That includes a lot of time spent idling while I checked 
it out.  Ther car smells of fuel, so there may be a leak or some kind of 
fuel wasting.  This is in NYC rush hour traffic. I reverse commute, but 
still this is not like driving in Wyoming. Just waiting for the light on the 
corner of my street can knock over one mpg off the tank average.  For 
comparision sake the car replaced an '84 Reliant 2.2 auto that got 22-24 
under the same conditions. I just hope I can get it all sorted out.

Rob


>From: "Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: IML: 80's starting problems
>Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 21:21:35 -0700
>
>The converted cars are basically standard 318 powered cars such as the New
>Yorker or 5th Avenue from the early to mid 80s.  Thus they have their own
>set of problems, but most of those are due to the limitations of 
>carburetion
>(and the "spark control") in that era brought about by epa rules.
>Typically, they are somewhat balky in cold weather, and they don't produce
>the mileage of the EFI cars.  They are certainly easier to keep running, as
>just about all mechanics are very familiar with the cars.
>
>The EFI cars have advantages some of us are pleased with, and we are 
>willing
>to put up with the possibility of service problems due to the dealer and
>other mechanics not being at all familiar with the cars.  The usual defense
>against these problems is to learn how to keep them running ourselves.  In
>my experience (I've had 3 EFI cars and one converted car), the occasional
>frustrating problem is well worth the extra effort it sometimes involves.
>
>As for durability and reliability, I'll cause a storm of protest with the
>following, but in my experience, the EFI cars, once straightened out, are
>rock solid reliable - we've driven ours all over the country and never had 
>a
>breakdown on the road.  And we've never had to deal with a screwed up
>carburetor or a stuck choke either.
>
>Also, we've enjoyed 23 MPG plus (sometimes 25, and on one occasion, I got
>way better than that, in an attempt to see just how good it would do - at 
>50
>MPH on cruise,  admittedly slightly downhill, and perhaps with a slight
>tailwind, I carefully topped up in Carson City NV, then drove to Fallon NV,
>topped up again, both times letting the automatic click-off stop the pump -
>I got 44 MPG!)
>
>But usually on trips, I drive between 75 and 80 MPH, and I average about
>22-23 - this includes quite a bit of mountain driving, but very little city
>driving.  Around town, I average about 18.
>
>Now, I'll duck!
>
>Dick Benjamin
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Larry Noska" <lnoska@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 7:41 PM
>Subject: RE: IML: My new '82
>
>
> > As I have an 82 any and all starting problems interest me.  Are the
>starting
> > problems just with the cars that haven't been converted??
> >
> > Dads 82
> >
> > Lawrence R Noska
> > lnoska@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Hauser, ID 83854
>
>
>
>