carbon deposits expelled from tailpipe

Caster56 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 12:16 PM

I just traded my 1971 Berlina for a black 1971 Spider, the Spider runs great, but has some difficulty starting, the choke cable only pulls out about 1/2 inch (is this normal?) also there is a black residue inside the tailpipe and when car is initially started from sitting overnite, this semi-

oily(has a slight gas smell) black residue is sprayed on the driveway, not a great amount and it quits after car is warmed, could this be a lean fuel mixture that I could correct by adjusting the cut-off solenoid, or could this be a harbinger of worse problems to come? Any help would be appreciated, Tom

**ossodiseppia** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caster56

I just traded my 1971 Berlina for a black 1971 Spider, the Spider runs great, but has some difficulty starting, the choke cable only pulls out about 1/2 inch (is this normal?) also there is a black residue inside the tailpipe and when car is initially started from sitting overnite, this semi-

oily(has a slight gas smell) black residue is sprayed on the driveway, not a great amount and it quits after car is warmed, could this be a lean fuel mixture that I could correct by adjusting the cut-off solenoid, or could this be a harbinger of worse problems to come? Any help would be appreciated, Tom

**Bill S** · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caster56

the choke cable only pulls out about 1/2 inch (is this normal?)

**lowmileage** · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 12:58 PM

You say cut-off solenoid so I assume it has Spica injection. If so, repeat after me - I will not mess around with the Spica system until I'm completly knowlegable with the operation of it which means I have read Wes Ingrams manual, and all of Roadtrips postings

I wouldn't be too concerned with the "dirtyness" of it at start-up, heck even mine does it

.

Caster56 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 01:07 PM

Thanks for the help, and No I will not fiddle with the SPICA, learned my lesson with that long ago, but I do know a mechanic who could do it if it needed it.

Caster56 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill S

A Spica equipped car would not normally have a choke cable. Perhaps you have a Shankle Sure-start that has replaced the thermostatic actuator? I don't think they have much travel in the cable. You may want to check your spark plugs for carbon to see if your Spica is adjusted too rich. Otherwise, yeah, the soot spitting is usually just from condensation in the exhaust as Osso stated.

**lowmileage** · #7 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caster56

I do know a mechanic who could do it if it needed it.

**ossodiseppia** · #8 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowmileage

Just make sure the mechanic dosen't look like this one.

**lowmileage** · #9 (**permalink**) 03-20-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ossodiseppia

Is that Jennifer Lopez?

**Zunige** · #10 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caster56

I didn't think the 71 Spider 1750 had a choke, and the thermostatic actuator is still on the SPICA, the guy who traded the Spider for my Berlina called it a choke and it won't start in the AM unless you use it, its located at the rear of the console behind the cig lighter.