Cant get it to start....Help!

Talk about your truck here

Moderators: Cal_Gary, T. Highway, Monkey Man, robi

Post Reply
Drew89
PVT
PVT
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:44 am
Location: Marthas Vineyard

Cant get it to start....Help!

Post by Drew89 »

My M37 will not start its pissing me off i can get it to turn over and get it to run for min but then it just dies. i need help any advice were the hell to start?
monkeymissile
SSGT
SSGT
Posts: 390
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:06 pm
Location: Cambridge (the Peoples' Republic of...)

fuel problem?

Post by monkeymissile »

i recently had a similar problem, turned out it was the fuel pump. You might also have a clogged fuel line or filter?
1953 Dodge M43

Fail often to succeed sooner
Lifer
1SG
1SG
Posts: 2096
Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:50 am
Location: Elberton, Georgia, USA

Post by Lifer »

I think monkeymissle got it right. It sure sounds like a fuel starvation problem to me. If it won't stay running after you check the fuel lines, filter, and fuel pump, though, you may have to check the float in the carb.
"PER ARDUA AD ITER"
k8icu
1SG
1SG
Posts: 1270
Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 5:23 am
Location: Cleveland Ohio
Contact:

Post by k8icu »

Ok it cranks so you have voltage to the starter... It fires up and runs for 30 sec to 1 min or so so you have spark. So the only other thing you need is fuel and it sounds like your getting that, but not all the time so I would agree that you need to check your fuel system. Check filters, and the pump. Dumb question, do you have fuel in the tank? I had a fuel gauge that would read at the halfway mark and I'd run dry once in a while so that's why I asked.
M37s are HMMWV in my world!
User avatar
uglyranger
PFC
PFC
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:02 am
Location: Georgia

Post by uglyranger »

Insert a clear fuel filter in your fuel line before the carb. It will tell you immediately if you are getting a continuous flow or not.
monkeymissile
SSGT
SSGT
Posts: 390
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:06 pm
Location: Cambridge (the Peoples' Republic of...)

Post by monkeymissile »

uglyranger wrote:Insert a clear fuel filter in your fuel line before the carb. It will tell you immediately if you are getting a continuous flow or not.
agreed, a cheap and invaluable diagnostic tool!
1953 Dodge M43

Fail often to succeed sooner
Lifer
1SG
1SG
Posts: 2096
Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:50 am
Location: Elberton, Georgia, USA

Post by Lifer »

Kinda makes you miss the "olde tyme" fuel pumps with the glass sediment bowls, doesn't it? You could easily tell if you were pulling fuel from the tank and you could dump the crud out of it every now and then!
"PER ARDUA AD ITER"
User avatar
N1VSM
SSGT
SSGT
Posts: 335
Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:15 am
Location: The Beautiful Berkshires, MA

Distrbutor

Post by N1VSM »

I had that problem - it turned out to be a wobbly distributor shaft, thanks to worn bushings. Rebuild was easy, and a great time to go with electronic ignition.

If your distributor hasn't been rebuilt recently - it's a thought.
You can trust your mother, but you can't trust your ground.
peter e mark
SSGT
SSGT
Posts: 339
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:56 am
Location: Long Island

Post by peter e mark »

Lifer, You is a top seargent now ! AS for checking fuel system performance, I installed a pressure gauge on the out let of the fuel pump. The book says the pump is supposed to deliver 4.5 to 5.0 PSIG fuel pressure, and the guage makes it clear as to your system overall performance. As reported in earlier postings, I would up installing a new steel 5/16" line form the tank fitting, all the way to the new fuel pump John Bizal sold me. I also changed the fuel filter in the tank. No more fuel delivery problems for me and I can see the system performance at a galnce ...
1952 M37 W/W
Veteran of 82 ABN. Division Motor Pool 1969
peter e mark
SSGT
SSGT
Posts: 339
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:56 am
Location: Long Island

Post by peter e mark »

One more note: If you do plan on changing your fuel line, get some help doing it ! And make sure you have the correct fittings and double flare tool , and bender (!) BEFORE you start...
1952 M37 W/W
Veteran of 82 ABN. Division Motor Pool 1969
poor rich
CPL
CPL
Posts: 145
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:20 pm
Location: Port Washington WI

not enough or to much gas?

Post by poor rich »

I had the very same problem, but mine turned out to be the float was stuck.
The engine would start then just sputter and die. I kept trying to find why I wasnt getting gas, untill I saw gas dripping from the intake.
My wife loves to cook, bakes fresh cookies for my lunch every week, and now she wants a 15" Mortar.... life is good!
peter e mark
SSGT
SSGT
Posts: 339
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:56 am
Location: Long Island

Post by peter e mark »

DREW89...We are waiting foir your report !Hope all is well...
1952 M37 W/W
Veteran of 82 ABN. Division Motor Pool 1969
Post Reply