Weak spark?. Engine always dies after 'cold' starts unless i get on the accelerator & get a good rev in...

[dug777]

Carbied '89 323 four door hatch

Runs fine after that initial period tho...

Almost sounds like it's dropped a cylinder/one is not always firing, when idling after a cold start too.


EDIT: weak spark?

 

[Whitecloak]

meh

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: dug777
Carbied '89 323 four door hatch

Runs fine after that initial period tho...

Almost sounds like it's dropped a cylinder/one is not always firing, when idling after a cold start too.

Points seem like the obvious culprit...

so you're sure it has points? most stuff that new is electonic ignition. yank the cap and take a look.
your symptoms are weak spark/drowning of the spark with fuel. cap, rotor, points if you have them, ancient plugs, ancient wires.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: dug777
Carbied '89 323 four door hatch

Runs fine after that initial period tho...

Almost sounds like it's dropped a cylinder/one is not always firing, when idling after a cold start too.

Points seem like the obvious culprit...

so you're sure it has points? most stuff that new is electonic ignition. yank the cap and take a look.
your symptoms are weak spark/drowning of the spark with fuel. cap, rotor, points if you have them, ancient plugs, ancient wires.

Hmm, your most likely right. I've had recurring problems with weak spark...

 

[Cattlegod]

miles on car and last tune up?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
miles on car and last tune up?

245,000kms. Due a service in about a month. It has been a while since the plugs were changed now i think about it...

 

[PG]

I thought anything from 89 had fuel injection. If it has a carb then the choke is your most likely culprit.
cap, rotors, wires, and plugs should be changed if they haven't been done recently
you have to eliminate those easy things first
for plugs get NGK V Power. they are cheap and work really well

 

[funboy6942]

Sounds like it just needs a good tune up. And if you ingnition parts be bad (cap, rotor, wires, plugs) sure it will be a weak spark and normmaly when them parts are going bad it will run like a turd cold and better when it warms up till the parts get so worn it just wont jump the plug gap and then it be missing on a few all the time with no power. Sopend the lousy $35 (USD) and get sum new parts and your car will thank you for it and so will you pocket book with better MPG

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: PG
I thought anything from 89 had fuel injection. If it has a carb then the choke is your most likely culprit.
cap, rotors, wires, and plugs should be changed if they haven't been done recently
you have to eliminate those easy things first
for plugs get NGK V Power. they are cheap and work really well

There was also an injected version of the 1.6l 323 motor in 89, but it was only sold in Australia and a few places in Asia and the Pacific iirc. Mine is the carbied one tho

I'll replace the plugs first and see where that leaves me folks

 

[SophalotJack]

I had the same prob with my car, OP.

You need to have your engine cleaned out of carbon buildup.

 

[WildHorse]

Your problem=engine timing needs resetting & distributor's vacuum advance is screwed up.

also, you won't believe how much better engine will run with a new distributor cap & rotor.

Buy from an online discounter, as a kit if possible, which may include a few needed extras like perhaps an o-ring seal for the cap or other little plastic fittings. E.G.: a single cap & rotor from Larry's AUto Parts in my town: $60+, but online, around $25.

Vibrant Life!!!

 

[Toastedlightly]

Good old carburator fuN! What carb does it have? Quadrajets are notorious for these issues (mine included )

Is the fuel draining out of fuel bowl and thus the engine running lean unless you rev it (which leads to fuel pump working harder and refilling the bowl..)?

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: PG
I thought anything from 89 had fuel injection. If it has a carb then the choke is your most likely culprit.
cap, rotors, wires, and plugs should be changed if they haven't been done recently
you have to eliminate those easy things first
for plugs get NGK V Power. they are cheap and work really well

There was also an injected version of the 1.6l 323 motor in 89, but it was only sold in Australia and a few places in Asia and the Pacific iirc. Mine is the carbied one tho

I'll replace the plugs first and see where that leaves me folks

You never half ass a tune up man
You replace all the parts together wether they need to or not. I full tune up on that car is silly cheap and a waste of time not to just do it all now instead of a little now and wait for the others to fail in time one after another.