Slow firing up

[TvrToe]

Over recent weeks the motor has lost its willingness to burst into life. Its turning over, no problem, but have to blip the throttle to fire her up, with a cough. I always wait 'till the fuel pump has primed before starting. Any ideas before it finally lets me down?

[Aaron C. Reskew]

Usually a sign of a tired starter or battery.

[TvrToe]

I thought the motor seemed to turn over ok. Looked at removing the battery, seems a bit of a bugger to get out, something about undoing some bolts from under the car ..well it is a TVR!

[GreenV8S]

Is it coming due for a service? Could be as simple as dirty plugs, so I'd plonk some new ones in and see if that helps.

[jsr]

If the engine is still turning over as before, then it's not the battery/starter/alternator. Would appear to be ignition related.

I sometimes experience this, maybe once a month or so. 99% of the time the engine fires up almost the instant the key is turned, but every now and then it needs a little throttle to help. My car seems to be running very rich at the moment (deposit at end of exhausts) which is great for the pops and bangs when lifting of the throttle, but i suspect it's not doing any good. I no expert, but seems as if the engine is flooded when it struggles to fire up, possibly due to rich unburnt fuel remaining - i stand to be corrected though.

Due a service in the few weeks.

[TvrToe]

Not due a service 'till October. If I don't catch the engine the first time of starting, it fires immediatley on turning over the second time. I too have soot on exhausts, but thought this was normal. Cleaned the stepper motor 'cause it was hanging onto revs. Stepper was sooty also, is this related?

[GreenV8S]

Shows it's running rich, at least. There are various faults that could cause overfuelling, but it might just be set up a little rich. I still suggest you replace the plugs because it may just be that they have got sooted up. If it doesn't help then you've done no harm.

[TvrToe]

thanx. I'll have a look at the plugs tomorrow. Think i've read on PHs somewhere that some plugs are difficult to get at, needing special socket adaptors. Is that true?
What should gap be?

[GreenV8S]

I used to find it was quite awkward to get at the rear ones, there isn't quite enough space to get any sort of ratchet or T bar in there, but I've found that using a bar with a 1/2" UJ on the end and an ordinary plug socket they're quite easy to do (changed the plugs probably a dozen time in the first three months of the year!). Plugs are NGK B7ECS, in my experience they are supplied gapped to around 0.9mm which works for me. Disconnect the air intake duct on the near side to provide access to the rear plugs.