Hard to start

[Steve Gallegos]

I have a backdraft with a 351 stroked with edelbrock EFI. In the last month it has been very hard to start. turns over, but takes about 6 long cranks to start. The gas pressure gauge on the EFI is reading good pressure, I smell gas and a couple times it backfired and smoke came out of the throttle body. I have good charging on the battery. I thought maybe bad fuel filter.

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by Steve Gallegos

I have a backdraft with a 351 stroked with edelbrock EFI. In the last month it has been very hard to start. turns over, but takes about 6 long cranks to start. The gas pressure gauge on the EFI is reading good pressure, I smell gas and a couple times it backfired and smoke came out of the throttle body. I have good charging on the battery. I thought maybe bad fuel filter.

Sounds like it has fuel but lack of spark, or fouling plugs.

Can you remove the plugs for inspection please?

How old is the fuel?

Are you using a winter blend?

Gary

[Steve Gallegos]

The fuel in recent, I live in SoCal, The plugs haven't been checked. The car finally starts and runs fine, but it's the problem getting it started.

[Gaz64]

How often do you drive the car?

Do you drive it hard now and then to "blow the cobwebs out"?

Are you using a late Pro-Flo system?

Sorry for more questions Steve.

Gary

[MKS427]

One issue you may want to look into, is a coldstart issue due to EFI not being properly programmed. I had the same problem with my FiTech the first time I tried to start it in the cold. I would recommend calling Edelbrock and asking for an initial cold start setting.
Good luck

[Steve Gallegos]

I drive the car about once a week. When I take it out on Sunday, I get it up to about 80-90 on open road. It runs good after start up. I think I just need to get it retuned on the Dyno.

[Steve Gallegos]

The ProFlo system was put in in 2009. But the last dyno tune was 2013

[Gaz64]

I don't think you need a dyno run this time.

It needs time spent on the fueling AND air at cold start.

If opening the throttle helps, the IAC is not open far enough at cold start.

Or the fueling is possibly too rich.

Gary

[joyridin']

I do not know what it uses as sensors, but most EFI set-ups have a temperature sensor that sits in the coolant by the water neck. These go bad a reasonable amount. Simply replacing that usually cheap sensor could fix the whole issue as it might not be reading correctly when the engine sits and is at room temperature.

[CHANMADD]

Usually timing.

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by OwenLi

Could another dyno run hurt the car at this point, Gary? I'm just curious.

This is a starting issue, 100 rpm to 1500 rpm, not a dyno tuning issue where they would be running from 1500 to 6000 plus.

If you are happy every where else, you could see your tuner, but a dyno run is a waste of time for now.

If your tuner can look at coolant and air temp, they should read the same before cold start.

Gary

[fastd]

Is just hard to start when it’s cold or does it do the same thing after it warms up?

[PeteF]

I seem to remember that hard starting could be an ignition coil going bad. Try swapping coil to see.

[LG57]

Also check for corrosion inside the distributor cap.

[Steve Gallegos]

The hard starting is the first start up. If I drive it, then stop let it sit for a couple of hours, it starts after 3 cranks. If I let it sit for the night, it starts all over again with the hard start. It drives ok on the freeway.

[Steve Gallegos]

Found my problem. reset the cold start settings. starts on third crank. Thanks for everyone help.

[Gaz64]

What does that mean "starts on 3rd crank"?

3rd starting attempt?

3 revolutions of the engine?

Gary

[Steve Gallegos]

3 revolutions of engine

[Gaz64]

That sounds good if you are happy now.

Gary