ok I just bought a gs storm, seems like a great car so far. I live in the mountians and there is snow here almost 40% of the time, weather is constantly changing and there for I need some advice on tuning my engin for different temps and weather, this is my first car so im not very experienced. I almost killed the carb messing with the settings trying to get it to start, luckily I didn't go too far but it was damn close. I would also like some info on keeping my car safe from the elements, since there's snow here alot I need to know how I can water proof my car. also could some one point me to some good websites for tech articles for the storm or just general nitro car info for beginers. thanks in advance.

I can give a general answer to some of your questions. I dont know what type of engine you have so put the high and low needle settings back to factory and try and get the engine running, it should start there if it doesnt try a new plug and make sure your glow starter is fully charged. Once its running you will have to lean it out to make the power you want at the rpms you intend to run: Try and keep the temps below 250 or cooler and dont make any adjustment till the engine is completely warmed up. When making adjustment do so in small increments, by using the face of a clock make adjustments in 2 hour steps and give it a little time to take effect. In colder weather you will have to richen up the engine a small amount and lean it up when it gets warmer. It sounds like your making to big adjustment at a time, once you get it set and it starts good and is making good power small adjustments is all it should take to adjust for outside temps and engine temps. If its seems to run to hot while running at mostly lower rpms try richening up the bottom end, if its running to hot at mostly higher rpms richen up the top end. If you dont have a temp gun you should get one to make your engine adjustments and to make sure your not overheating your engine. Good luck and hope the info helped.

Water bad!! Snow is mostly water right??
We don't see much here.
you want to be very carful with this.. a little water on the radio gear and you'll be chasing the buggy into the trees. your reciever should be in a box, so thats good, make sure any wire conections are sealed up and make sure you have a rubber switch cover. that's about all you can do.

but I'd be more concerded with the rusting up after you use it in the snow,, maybe spray it down with some silicone spray lube before you take it out. that will help the water from sticking. and make sure you completely dry it off before you put it away, blow it completely dry with an air compressor.

my .02

Good luck

I have had it!, I hate my car.I bought it for fun, not stress. I would have had more fun watching my money burn at this point. tried everything to get it to work, called gs about 10 times and even took it into the shop I bought it from, this things a pos. gs now thinks there's something wrong with the carb and they want me to send it in now aaaaaaaahhhhh im so pissed. could it be just because of the cold weather that it won't stay running? $600 down the drain, I should have spent it on my jeep cj7 rock crawler.

dude it can't be that bad,,, these car engine take a little patiance to get tuned right,, the best thing would be to find the local race track and go ask the guys there if they could help you,, most people more than willing to help

Do like the other guy said
re set the needles to the factory settings and it should run.
What is you elevation? the factory settings maybe to rich if your over 5000'
it hard to say what's wrong unless you tell us what it is doing?
You need to give us a little more info

How many runs on the engine before you had a problem?
How did you break i the motor?
What % nitro and glow plug are you using?
What engine is it?
have you ever cleaned and re-oiled the air filter?

Read this info on Ofna site maybe it will help you get it running
http://www.ofna.com/tune.html
http://www.ofna.com/temp.html

I use 20% nitro fuel, it's the traxxas brand, I think it's top fuel, it hasn't really worked much since I had it but after the guys at the shop I got the car at messed with it it worked long enough to break the engine in 4 tanks worth of idling, 1/4 throttle, 1/2 throttle and 3/4 throttle I live at 9500 ft so the settings could be quite far off, I now know factory settings so I have started there and worked my way around trying to make it run better. when I adjust the carb needle it dosen't seem to really help almost at all, and it won't stay running for long at all, I don't know if it's just the altitude or if it's the cold of if it just dosen't work but I have had too much stress from it, and today I got dumped by my girl and that is making things even worse. if you think that I can make it work I will re-install the engine and carb and start tinkering with it but if you think it's a messed up carb I will just send it in to gs. my engine is the stock.21, glow plug is stock as well.tempature has ranged fromprobly 30-40*degrees. it did run for a while maybe 1/2 a day when I was breaking it in but when I was trying to do the full throttle breakin part it just kept dieing and now it's not working hardly at all, it will idle then die, no matter how much I try to adjust it.

Well that’s a start; remember this less air needs less fuel
Wow at 9500 I'd barely be able to breath!! And the engine probably has the same problem.
The factory settings surely are way to rich.

You can't really "hurt" the carburetor by adjusting the needles and the cool temps do make some difference,, but I'd guess it's your low end needle that's the problem and letting it just idle for 4 tanks isn't the best method for break in

Have you tried leaning out the low-end needle?
That is more than likely the problem
Also with 20% nitro try using a McCoy mc49 glow plug.

Read the info on those links above but try starting a half turn in on the high end needle and maybe a full turn in on the low end needle to compensate for elevation

These engines are a little tricky but I'm sure your engine is fine.
You need to just take your time and make small adjustment at a time. Most important to let the engine get up to temperature before you make any adjustments (200-250 degree range)

ok get the motor running. pinch the fuel tubing by the carb. if it idles the same for more than 6 sec its rich.if it dies in less than 3 sec its lean. you should set it to run the same for 3 to 5 sec. that will get you low end in the ball park.( you do know whitch needle is low end right??)make sure the idle setting is set to the book.(barrel opening) after that make a couple of high speed passes. it should have good speed and a little smoke out the ex. than fine tune the low end again and your done.
good luck