Any trick to starting your truck

[Hiluxxulih]

I took my 1985 chevy c10 to the shop to get my radio cutout fixed and the guy working there tried to move my truck and could not get it started apparently he flooded it , this is the same guy that gave me the scariest ride in my life in a tow truck ride a year or so ago when my company freightliner box truck broke down and had to be towed about 75 miles up the Oregon coast , come to find out he was the office worker and had never driven a tow truck before and the regular driver was on vacation .

[oldpurple]

Pump the pedal once and turn the key.

[franken]

Yup, the usual practice was press the gas to the floor, and let off to set the choke, then crank.
I used to drive a Fiat something that when it was cold (-20-30C) I'd have to pump it constantly til it fired. Italian cars don't like the cold. Nor did Mercedes of the era.

Old carbed vehicles have personality. That said, an SBC is about the most forgiving engine when starting.

If the choke doesn't work, maybe a pump or 2 on the gas while cranking.
If it hits a bit then no fire, it could be flooded; gas pedal to the floor and crank.

[bilfman]

Ditto, to the floor and crank.

[smokepole]

When you get it running, take it home and let it sit to cool off. Take the air cleaner off and have someone push the throttle to the floor, watching closely to see the choke rod push the choke plate closed. This also sets the high idle cam to the top notch. If it doesn't close the plate fully it may need service. It was my standard practice years ago in cold weather to listen as I pushed the accelerator to the floor to start my P30. You could here the choke plate and high idle cam slap faintly as they closed. A lost art on todays cars and trucks.

[TrailerTrash]

my 79 K10 needs a specific pattern of column shifter jiggling because the neutral safety switch is half broke and half not lined up. its like an anti theft system

I usually do it when i put the truck in park before i shut it off that way it fires right up next time

[Dead Parrot]

Unless mine has sat long enough for the gas in the carb to evaporate, I just turn on the ignition and push the start button. Then throttle as needed. No choke or pre pump required. I need to add some manual choke if the weather is cool. The push button saved me from having to replace the ignition switch when the start contacts wore out years ago.

[wilkin250r]

My truck sits for long periods of time, so I usually have to crank the engine for several seconds to fill the carb. I also have no choke.

So my standard practice is usually to crank for about 5~8 seconds, stop, pump the gas a few times, and it fires right up. In cold weather, about 50% of the time it will die right away, so I pump a few more and fire.

Without a choke, I usually have to let it warm up several minutes. If I give it one sliver of gas before it warms up, it will die.

[WyattTX]

On my '85 c10, two rapid hits on the gas pedal, and a turn of the key gets it going. Might want to get a manual choke, if that does not help you.

[Nessmuk]

Depends.
Manual or electric pump?
Carb or fuel injection?
Carb with a manual pump, crank and pump it once or twice, then it depends on the vehicle, let off, halfway down, or floor it if it's very cold. Just let off when it starts, maybe feather the pedal for a moment.
Electric pump, turn the key on, give it a second, then start it.
He likely had no clue about a carb'ed engine. Is you choke automatic or a pull knob in the cab? I prefer the pull cable in the cab, until I drive with it on...

[abig84]

ive owned some turds over the years and have had a few where if you screwed it up trying to start it chances are you flooded it. my first k5 blazer you pumped it once then slowly pushed the gas down while cranking and it would fire about halfway down.

owned a 83 s10 where the carb was all messed up. wintertime was fun, had to pump it like 20 times, start and die, pump it 20 times and repeat like 6 times before it would start.... or just spray starting fluid in it

luckily everything i own now is pretty standard.

[Hiluxxulih]

He must have flooded it because my truck starts cold with just 1 pump of the gas pedal and starts near instantly warm .

[Malo83]

2,3 pumps and she starts right up, in the winter it's 2,3 pumps and she'll idle for a few seconds then die, 2,3 more pumps then she'll idle away

[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by Malo83

2,3 pumps and she starts right up, in the winter it's 2,3 pumps and she'll idle for a few seconds then die, 2,3 more pumps then she'll idle away

Same with mine.

[DieselSJ]

Turn key.

I love EFI.

[Bears63]

No functioning choke on my '78 means fun times when it is cold... Sarcasm there With the warmer weather now it is one pump and she fires. When it is -10 F then it is pump about 10 times, try it and if she fires work that gas pedal to keep her running. It's a bunch of fun. I will be fixing the divorced choke on the Quadrajet this summer.