This has been going on for a few years, but I have not gotten stranded yet, so haven't panicked. My trusty '78 245 starts with a few cranks and a stutter in the coldest weather (I plug it in below 10 deg F) and smoothes out pretty rapidly. It fires up fine when warm (after being turned off for up to about 1-1.5 hr). The problem is when it is "cool" - that is, turned off for about 1.5-2 hr. It takes about a minute of cranking to get it to fire up. This always happens when I'm away from home, but as I say, I haven't been stranded yet. Once started, the brick runs great.
I replaced all of the standard stuff (plugs, rotor, wires, cap, etc.) which makes no difference.
Evidently, the cold start injector is working (maybe not "fine"). I'm beginning to wonder if the symptoms suggest the thermo time switch needs replacement. Is this reasonable? Can the symptoms of "cool" starting suggest that the cold start function should be triggered, but it isn't?
I am sure the cold start system has never been worked on, it certainly hasn't in the 21 years I've had this car.
Thanks for any info or opinions.