CADILLAC ELDORADO COUPE 1974

[frostelid]

I have a major problem with my car, and that is when I am going to start it up, I always have to use start gas, to make it willing to run at all. If I use the startmotor only, the battery will die, and that is no good. What can I do to start as any other car, only by using the key?

[KHE]

Some basic questions - are you sure the car has gas in the tank? If so, have you checked the fuel pressure? For a carburetor system, the pressure should be in the 9-13 psi range.

[Ranger]

Is the choke adjusted properly? Are you "setting the choke" before you crank by pushing your foot to the floor once?

[PAUL T]

I would say that the fuel pump is dead or the fuel line is plugged. Check the fuel pressure as others have said. Also check the fuel filter. If it starts with starter fluid then it is not getting gas from the tank. Give us some history of the car, has it been sitting for a while?

[BodybyFisher]

If it starts with starting fluid, I would think that the choke is not closing, meaning it is not properly adjusted, frozen, etc

Take the air cleaner off when the engine is cold, first thing in the morning, go inside, push the gas pedal once, look into the carburator and see where the choke is, if it is standing up straight, it has a problem

if its the choke its a simple fix

I owned a 74 Convertible

[CarlaValentine]

If it starts with starting fluid, I would think that the choke is not closing, meaning it is not properly adjusted, frozen, etc

Take the air cleaner off when the engine is cold, first thing in the morning, go inside, push the gas pedal once, look into the carburator and see where the choke is, if it is standing up straight, it has a problem

if its the choke its a simple fix

I owned a 74 Convertible

Love the license plate.

[caddidaddy55]

It could also be the accelorator pump. It is a little rod that sticks up from the top of the carb with a pivot arm and linkage to it, you will have to remove the entire air cleaner to see it. With the choke open look down the venturi and push down on the rod, you should see a squirt of gas. If you don't that could be the problem, if it is the car will also accelerate sluggishly when you first press down on the gas. There is also a check valve in the fuel pump that sometimes fails and will allow the gas to siphon from the carb back into the tank. The cheap fix is to remove the fuel filter from the carb wher the fuel line goes in. Some of these have a little neoprene check valve in them and some don't. Even if yours does, sometimes that will fail too. At any rate I would replace the filter with one with a check valve first. Go to a NAPA or someplace where the people behind the counter astually work on their own cars, because if it is not listed for your application they will at least be able to find it for you. Take the old filter with. If the fuel id siphoning out of the carb than the accelorator pump test won't work, syou can test it with the car running push the rod down (not the linkage)the engine should speed up momentarily.

Good Luck!

caddidaddy55

[Texas Jim]

Good post...

Good point about the anti-siphoning valve in the little filter in the carb.

I had thought about the accelerator pump, but didn't post anything about it.

I just "ASSUMED" that had been checked.

(I know...I shouldn't "A$$-U-ME" anything)

Being that it is a '74...It will have a Quadrajet on it.

The accelerator pump leather/rubber will dry out and shrink if it sets for a long time.

About the only cure is replacing the accelerator pump.

In the "OLD DAYS" ... you could buy the pump separately and not have to by a whole rebuilding kit.

I don't know about "NOW"

[BodybyFisher]

Thanks Carla,

The accelerator pump should not cause a problem with starting only create a BOG when you step on the gas while rolling. The CHOKE is suppose prime for starting.

This fellow never came back to discuss this issue or say whether it was resolved

I assume this is a carb also, some of these 500's had fuel injection