Hey everyone. Just purchased a 40,000 original mile 84 T/A that's been sitting since 1999 and I'm having a strange problem. When I initially received it, it was extremely hard to start and I determined that it was a bad accelerator pump and was all around gummed up due to old gas. The carb was professionally rebuilt and re-installed, but now the following is happening.

The symptoms seem to change, too. Sometimes, when I try to start it, I will hear a clicking as it is cranking, and it won't easily fire up. At first, I thought maybe the starter was the culprit, but I replaced it with a good one I had around and double checked the clearances on it. Another time, it will crank without the clicking and it will fire but run EXTREMELY rough and want to die. Another time, it will fire up and idle perfectly, no problem.

Any ideas as to what this could be? Everything on the car is original....what about spark plugs, plug wires, ignition coil, cap and rotor? I don't want to replace things if I don't have to, but I am not sure what the exact issue would be. Any help would be appreciated!

 

Is the clicking coming from the starter solenoid?

 

Is it an Electric Carb? sounds like the mixture control solenoid, generally if you turn the key to the on position (not start) youll hear the tiktiktiktiktiktiktik noise as it sits there adjusting itself, this is normal. If you dont hear it when you turn the key on, that means it isnt working. The Mixture control solenoid is a little needle thats bounced up and down the control the fuel mixture. if it doesnt work then you would probably get an engine light and running like a pig.

 

Are they all cold starts or does it matter if it has been run a while then shut off, restart, etc?

Has it acted the same right after carb rebuild or did it run okay for a while?

 

The mixture control solenoid is working as it should I believe, although it's a tad louder than any other 84 T/A I've ever had.

It's pretty much acted the same since the carb rebuild. It won't want to easily start when cold and when it does, it idles really rough and wants to die. If I keep the RPMs up for a couple minutes then it will stay running with my foot off the gas, still a little rough.

 

Does it run okay when engine is warmed up? When cold start and you push accelerator to floor once before starting, does the primary on carb close? If not, is choke wire connected?