1962 FI Cold Start

[Ray C.]

I have a friend that just purchased a 1962 FI car and has just joined the NCRS family. He has asked me to post this question:

What causes a cold start problem and what needs to be done to fix it?

Thanks for any information!

Maybe this will be an ice breaker for him and he will join in if there is a discussion.

Ray #36314

[William C.]

Re: 1962 FI Cold Start

How cold, how long between starts, could be a lot of things, need some more information. If my '62 has been sitting for a couple of months, I generally use a shot of starting fluid into the air inlet hose to the air filter to give it a little encouragement, otherwise it just starts finr as long as it's driven every other week or os. Is the choke closing? The '62 system has a similiarity to a carburetor choke in operation, is the butterfly working, fuel in the fuelmeter, fast idle cam in proper position and free, following the prescribed factory starting procedure (set the choke & fast idle cam then crank without foot on the pedal) full of Gas? Lots of questions to be answered, starting with how lonk between starts....

[John D.]

Re: 1962 FI Cold Start

The Corvettee Servicing Guide-ST 12 manual has a nice trouble shooting section for FI's. It's refreshing to read it once in a while. Especially the theory section.
Fails To Start: 1. No fuel to fuel meter. 2. No fuel at nozzles(check more than one nozzle. 3. No vacuum signal at main control diaphragm. See manual for what to check.
Difficult Starting:
1. Improper cold starting procedure. (guys like to pump the accelerator pedal on an FI car and boy does that screw them up)
2. Improper hot starting or unloading procedure.
3. No vacuum boost at disconnected signal line.
Check for defective cranking signal valve or electric choke not working.

Luckily RP only made the 62 choke set up one year. I mean that choke shaft is sooo long. Typically it binds in the bore and therefore hard starting and poor performance. Hardest part of a 62 FI is the air meter side. Get past that and the rest is a piece of cake. John D.

P.S. Don't waste money buying a separate FI manual guys.Just use the shop manuals. It's there for free. If you own a mid year. You need a 63 Corvette shop manual, a 62 down Corvette Servicing Guide -St12 manual and maybe a 64 -65 supplement. Have those and you have a complete library. Don't go on Ebay and buy the separate manuals unless you have money to burn.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1962 FI Cold Start

Just over night will cause it to start hard