QuestionMy 1989 tarago has had starting problems for just over a year. At first I needed to pump the accelerator about 3 times to get it to start, then several lots of 3 times, several lots of 5 times. Now it needs about 5 minutes of repeated pumping. I've always had a service every 5000kms, had every repair the mechanics said the car needed. In the past month I've tried 3 different motor mechanics, handing each hundreds of dollars, but the problem is actually still getting worse. When I turn the key the car turns over, there is spark. Is it the automatic choke? Why can't anyone diagnose the problem?
AnswerI'm not sure what a Tarago is but is is probably sold here in the US under a different name, since you mentioned a choke I will have to assume that is has a carburetor rather than EFI.
If that's the case you should have the choke system checked to see if it working as it should, it certainly sounds like the engine is not getting enough fuel at cold starts.
This may be due to a choke plate that is not closing and stuck in the open position, you can actually do this yourself, wait until the engine is completely cooled down overnight, remove the top cover of the air cleaner and look inside, the choke plate will be open, push the accelerator all the way down just once and release it, look into the carburetor again the choke plate should now be almost fully closed, if it's not then there is the problem, sometimes it can be freed up by spraying it with a carb cleaner and moving it by hand but the throttle must be held fully open either by another person in the car or blocking it open some other way.
