Chevrolet 1973 Monte Carlo Owner's Manual page 72

as a screwdriver handle or pliers. Replace the oir cleaner and
attempt to start the engine in the normal manner.
(E) If the car will start but stalls when hot or has a rough idle,
you can suspect a faulty IDLE ADJUSTMENT, a malfunctioning
AUTOMATIC CHOKE or an extremely dirty and blocked AIR
CLEANER ELEMENT . Replace paper element air cleaner if necessary.
Idle adjustment or automatic choke service (other than that outlined
in paragraph 0 above) should be performed by your Chevrolet
Dealer.
If the above Fuel System checks and the checks suggested under
the Electrical System following do not correct the malfunction, it is
recommended that you turn to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer
for further checks, adjustments or repairs.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
If when the ignition key is turned to "Start", the engine will not
turn' over, yOu have good reason to suspect electrical trouble.
NOTE: Never' remove Delcotron bat lead without first disconnecting
battery ground cable.
IF)
When there is no response at all to attempts to start the car,
check the obvious-your AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR
LEVER must be in Neutral or Park position (manual transmission
must have clutch depressed all the way to floor) before the engine
can be starfed. Turning the IGNITION SWITCH rapidly back and
forth several times will sometimes correct a poor internal switch
contact.
(GI The BATTERY may be discharged. If so, lights will be dim and
the horn will have a poor tone if it will blow at all.
Usually a garage recharge will be necessary to return the battery
to operation. Occasionally, however, a long drive will recharge the
battery. . , •
NOTE: If the baHery is determined to be dead, and for no apparent
reason, have your
:Aflthori~ed
Chevrolet Dealer check the
baHery, the GENERATOR and the VOLTAGE REGULATOR.
GENERATOR trouble shqiJld already have been indicated by
69
the generator indicator light on the instrument panel.
POOR BATTERY CONNECTIONS may be suspected if the car has
operated properly a short time before and now not even the horn
will operate. Check both ends of both battery cables. If the con-
nections are corroded, a car may sometimes be restored to opera-
tion by removing all cable ends, scraping all contacting surfaces
clean with a pen knife, and reassembling. If the cables are broken,
they must be replaced. The power supply should now be restored
unless- the battery is dead.
(HI If, however, the lights and horn work properly but the starter
will still not turn over, check the STARTER connections. A "click"
from the starter solenoid indicates that the wiring to the starter is
properly installed. If the wiring seems to be clean and tightly in-
stalled, the trouble is probably in the starter itself and should be
referred to your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
When the engine will "turn over" but will not start, the following
items may be checked along with the Fuel Systems Checks listed
previously.
(II With a clean dry cloth wipe the ce-amic portions of the spark
plugs dry. In particularly damp or rainy weather dampness may be
the cause of not starting, espe-
cially when the engine is cold.
(JI Check the cables at the top
of the distributor and coil as well
as each spark plug cable for
tightness.
(KI If the car will still not start,
check for spark at the spark plugs
in the following manner:
Pull one of the spark plug
wires off its spark plug. Insert a
short piece of bare wire (such as
Distributor and Coli Cables