Whats Wrong??

My Jeep had been running ok. 73 CJ5, 304 AMC, just moved from AZ to WA state last Saturday. Havent driven it yet, this morning started it up to move no problem. This afternoon started it up to move back to original place, and wouldnt start. Cranks, but like starving for gas or something. Push pedal to floor, and it start but like a heart beat and smoke coming out exhaust. Any ideas? Wouldn't run long enough to move.

 

It don't like the wet air here! R)

what part of WA are you in now?

 

Yelm WA, outside Olympia. Thats what I was wondering also, so what can you do about that?

 

Interesting...

1) How did you move it? Did you drive it? Did you have it on a flatbed? Did you tow it on it's rear wheels? Was it a bumpy ride?

I would check all hoses and connections first! You may have a line half on somewhere, or possibly the move finally brought some cracks out depending on the age and condition of your hoses.

Also, you fuel filter could be clogged from moving it. I'm thinking the easiest of all solutions is probably the most likely.

2) How often do you drive it? More importantly, how old is the gas?

Commonly in our older vehicles we tend to drive them for a while, and store them for awhile, depending on the time of year. In Arizona, you probably didn't drive her much in the summer, and broke her out in the fall/winter/spring (here it's all one season). Your gas could be old, which is probably the cause of the smoke.

3) Being from Arizona myself, there is a little known fact that cars can somehow get used to the dry air. Many times I have driven any car to other states and had a harder time starting it with moist air. In a carb engine, there could have been some sort of moisture in your carb, combined with the reasons above that has caused some problem. As to that, I have no suggestions. Obviously, the more you drive her, the less moisture will be in the system. Do you keep her in a garage or outside? You may have to adjust your carb to the new surroundings....oh, and check your air intake and make sure your vacuum hoses are not cracked as well....possibly a parting gift from the desert.

I'm no mechanic, but these are just some things that I have seen. Good luck!!

 

X2 on checking for anything that may have bumper loose. What color is the smoke? Does it smell like it's running rich? I may be possible that you have to adjust the carb for evelvation and climate changes.

 

yep, if you towed it, there may be something the filter picked up from the tank blocking the fuel line.
try changing the filter and see what happens.

 

A sudden 'won't start' condition usually can be traced to loss of spark or no fuel. Do you know how to check for these?

 

OK guys, sorry still unpacking. We moved it on a flat bed trailer from U-hail. California was a bit bumpy on I-5, but not to bad. I unloaded it from the trailer, drove it to the side of the house and parked it. I then started it up to move it down the street to make way for movers. Started right up, moved and parked. That evening, is when I tried to start it to drive back to the side of the house to park it. The normal engine turn happened, a slight try to start once or twice but no sputter or anything. I was thinking it was flooded, so I rested it, got in slowly push the pedal to the floor and turn and it started but more like pu-pu-pu--pu--pu-pu and more of white greyish smoke from each side exhaust.

 

Greyish smoke? That concerns me. It could be a nothing, but is it possible you are burning oil? Have you ever seen this smoke before?

 

Isn't grey (white) smoke usually a sign of burnt coolant?

http://www.trustmymechanic.com/troubleshoot_smoke.htm
http://www.tpub.com/content/engine/14076/css/14076_93.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_can_cause_white_smoke_from_the_exhaust

I blow blue smoke almost everytime I start my engine. It makes me smile when I'm parked next to a Prius R)

 

LOL!!!

 

Yes - gray-blue is oil. White is water. Black is fuel.

 

Pull your distributor cap and check for condensation inside. You showed up during an unusually wet period (more rain in 1 day, than what we normally get all summer), so get some gas dryer and add to gas. I'm thinking you pulled some major condensation into the system in the transition from low humidity to high humidity. Especially up there around Yelm.

 

No, never seen it before, never had it run like that before either, started right up earlier.

 

That's why I think you pulled water into the system. I may be wrong, and it could be something else, but I'd try the gas dryer before tearing anything apart.

 

No, havent seen this smoke before, as I said it started right up with no problem just hours earlier. I did stop by a mechanic shop in Yelm that works on various autos but also builds jeeps. I told them and even mentioned the comment about jeeps don't like wet air, especially if not use to it, and they said hmmmm well either way it should still start, I would recommend you don't try any additives or anything and tow into us and let us look it over before doing something that could damage.

 

What is the gas dryer, can you explain please.

 

It's an additive that you put in your gas. A common brand is 'HEET'. It uses either methanol (yellow) or isopropol alchohol (red) to 'absorb' the water/condensation in your fuel system. A local garage or auto parts store will carry it. It will not damage your engine when used as directed, in fact a garage here in town will test how much water (if any) that could be in your fuel, and use those numbers to determine how much HEET to use.
As you know, fuel and water will separate, and the HEET will keep the water in suspension. You may have had good fuel in your lines when you last started it, and that's why it's acting funny now.
How much fuel was in your tank when it was brought here, and have you filled it back up yet?
You need to be the final decision as to whether you need to take it to a mechanic, though.

 

It is sunny today and got fairly hot. I worked all day in the yard and most everything dried up. I went to the jeep, needed to add some water to the radiator, did that, and it started right up. I think the air was dry as someone said, and it was warm and it started up right away on first try. I will go down and buy some of that. I am not sure if water got in fuel or like you said, just condesation within distributor.