Expert: Kevin Pilotte - 8/15/2008

Question
I recently was given my grandmothers 1976 Pacer. It has about 70000 miles on it and is in good shape. The problem I am having is in the morning it is so hard to start. When I first got it I could not get it started for a week. After a new battery was put in my mom got it started after about 15 minutes of cranking it. She told me that these were always hard to start when cold. She told me to start buy pumping the gas pedal hard and fast before turning the key and to continue to pump it while cranking it. After 10 minutes or so it will act like it wants to start and usually after catching it dies and then starts and runs.
This morning though it was really hard. I smelled gas after about 5 minutes, even with the windows up and me smoking a cigarette. My girlfriend who was with me told me I flooded it. I tried pumping it even more, even holding it to the floor and still it acts like it wants to but just won't. Can you help me please?

Answer
Sandra,
It sounds as though your Pacer is in need of some carburetor work.
If you have to pump the gas to get it going when cold, the choke is out of adjustment, the fuel filter could be restricted, or the fuel pump is weak. If you smell gas while trying to start it, it probably could use spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap, rotor, and make sure the ignition coil is operating properly. You're probably going to need to have the carburetor overhauled.
Find a mechanic that knows carburetors and bring it to him/her.