'77 977S Cold Start/Throttle questions

kpfoten · 06-07-2003, 06:29 PM

Hi! Got my car running and took it for a spin today... Unfortunately I have a few problems w/questions...

1. I need to spray a puff of starting fluid in the air intake and put the gas to the floor when I start it. This keeps it idling at about 1K Rpms. This continues for about a minute until I can coax it to rev up. Cold Start Valve?

2. What is recommended timing? The sticker on the fan shroud says 15 degrees, but it was set at 5 degrees...

3. After the car warms up, it starts up easily. However when I drive it I get no response when I hit the gas. I have to coax it to idle up, then it really goes. I was thinking Aux Air Valve. I was told that the air-flow sensor may be sticky. In fact, when I push it up, I get some drag from the side that mates up to the fuel distributor. (Possibly suction?)

I know it's complicated...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Kris,

Do you get any backfires when trying to start it using your method?

kpfoten · 06-17-2003, 09:27 AM

Backfiring through the intakes every once in awhile...

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Kris,

Whenever I step on the gas pedal when trying to start the car, I get a huge backfire that sounds just like a shotgun! The car is in the shop right now because the starting issue I'm having has been going on for almost a year and I can't take it any more. Hopefully, my mechanic will be able to get the cold start circuit working. My car only starts easily when it's "hot" (less than 30 min since last running).

kpfoten · 06-17-2003, 11:16 AM

Art,

Let us know how it works out, what they did, etc. Good luck! Sounds like symptoms are similar to mine.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Many of you have followed my intermittent "cold starting" problem that eventually became a constant starting problem that caused my to have to crank my car 20-30 times, with several loud backfires, prior to the car starting. Once the car started, it ran great but the starting problem was driving me nuts. Needless to say, I replaced alot of components (fuel filter and accumulator, cold start valve and thermotime switch, throttle microswitch, plugs, CD unit, rotor, coil, Pertronix unit, WUR, etc...

Each replaced item improved the situation temporarily, but the problem still persisted. The cold and warm pressures were within acceptable limits and I had good spark at plug #1, but the car just cranked and refused to start. To make a long story short, this is what the mechanic found:

- The plugs were improperly gapped (too wide) even though I followed the instructions on the PermaTune CD unit for spark plug gapping specs.

- The plug wires and their "boots" are bad and I will replace them

- The "new" throttle microswitch that Jordi Riera sent to me worked perfectly and the old one was bad

- One of the wires coming off the Pertronix unit had rubbed until the insulation was off and bare wire was showing.

My mechanic "fixed" these things and the car starts on the first crank, idles at 950rpm and runs great. I REALLY appreciate all of the assistance so many of you have provided. I have learned alot from you kind folks. I'll post this update on the other posts that I have been on so that anyone with a similar problem may be helped. I had checked the spark at plug #1 and had a nice spark, but my mechanic showed me that others were weak. I hope this helps others out there....