89 tracker hard starting

riley · 09-23-2009, 10:40 PM

My 89 tracker cranks for a long time when cold and is hard starting. once it starts it acts like it is flooded. After running for 2 or 3 minutes it instantly starts until it sets for several hours. This is a new problem today prior to this it started instantly in all weather. It has 125k kilometers on it and the only problem is when driven hard it uses oil. If I keep the speed below 65 no oil consumtion.

Any ideas

aquanaut20 · 09-24-2009, 02:02 AM

Perform a compression test with throttle wide open, all plugs out.

Report back with numbers.

riley · 09-24-2009, 05:48 AM

Compression is good, around 150 on all cylinders. I have to go to the city tiday and will pick up tune up parts and try that.

riley · 09-24-2009, 08:13 AM

When I started the vehicle this morning it started right up, raining at the time. I will try tune up anyway to see if it helps, first problem starting in 30 years.

kick-fix · 09-24-2009, 02:05 PM

tune ups work.

rotor,cap,wires.plugs if over 50k or near.
no ,no name parts. get NGK , bosch, denso, etc.
make sure rotor goes on 1 way , not 3, if it does, trash it.

if you, give it 5% throttle , can it start better? or if it is flooding does Magic WOT
start it fast? (wot, wideopenthrottle , signals CUT FUEL)

get hot spark to plug tips. first

riley · 09-24-2009, 02:35 PM

Thanks, the plugs were quite bad and have been replaced. It started to rain so I will do wires, cap and rotor tomorrow. Works great now but I will let it set overnight to see what happens.