Choke plate not closing.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

84 Shorty

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2017
Posts
255
Reaction score
112
Location
Grovetown, GA
First Name
Andrew
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
It doesn’t matter how long it sits, the choke plate is always wide open. It’s closed in the pic because I manually closed it.The electric choke is wired to a 12v ign source. Correct me if I’m wrong but shouldn’t the choke plate collapse when it’s sittingover night? Also I changed out my radiator and noticed this. What exactly are these?

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,789
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
It doesn’t matter how long it sits, the choke plate is always wide open. The electric choke is wired to a 12v ign source. Correct me if I’m wrong but shouldn’t the choke plate collapse when it’s sittingover night? Also I changed out my radiator and noticed this. What exactly are these?

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
The plug is for your brake sensor and the line should be tank vent into the charcoal canister the flap should close when the choke is activated iirc it’s been a while since I played with a choke carb. Lol I have one on the healing bench when I get around to it. Accually it appears to be that same carb. Lol
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,461
Reaction score
4,572
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, c30 C&C, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350
It doesn’t matter how long it sits, the choke plate is always wide open. It’s closed in the pic because I manually closed it.The electric choke is wired to a 12v ign source. Correct me if I’m wrong but shouldn’t the choke plate collapse when it’s sittingover night? Also I changed out my radiator and noticed this. What exactly are these?

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach

It should be closed with the key on and engine off, and i don’t think itll be closed ALL of the time while off. Are you running an electric choke quadrajet?
 

84 Shorty

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2017
Posts
255
Reaction score
112
Location
Grovetown, GA
First Name
Andrew
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
It should be closed with the key on and engine off, and i don’t think itll be closed ALL of the time while off. Are you running an electric choke quadrajet?

Yes I am, I can go outside the next morning after it sat over night and the choke plate will be wide open.
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,461
Reaction score
4,572
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, c30 C&C, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,461
Reaction score
4,572
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, c30 C&C, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350
Yes I am, I can go outside the next morning after it sat over night and the choke plate will be wide open.
Make sure you have 12v at the carb though. Take a test light and make sure there’s 12v at the connector and if there isn’t then you’ll have to check the choke electrical system. Just one fuse and one wire.

On my 84 the wire is blue, mine also wasn’t working or quit at some point without me noticing but my fuse was good and I have the wiring harness wrapped up so I didn’t want to tear it apart so I just made a new circuit
 

twinturbo427

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2014
Posts
622
Reaction score
700
Location
Florida
First Name
Phil
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Suburban
Engine Size
350
Try depressing the gas pedal once, with the engine cold, before starting it, and then check the position of the choke.
 

84 Shorty

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2017
Posts
255
Reaction score
112
Location
Grovetown, GA
First Name
Andrew
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Try depressing the gas pedal once, with the engine cold, before starting it, and then check the position of the choke.

I have to play with the gas pedal for a good minute. If not it will sputter and die, no matter the temperature. Once I let it run for a while. I can go back out and it fires up. Could I have a sticking float? Maybe it isn’t allowing enough fuel to the reservoir, so it has a hard time idling?
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,461
Reaction score
4,572
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, c30 C&C, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350
I have to play with the gas pedal for a good minute. If not it will sputter and die, no matter the temperature. Once I let it run for a while. I can go back out and it fires up. Could I have a sticking float? Maybe it isn’t allowing enough fuel to the reservoir, so it has a hard time idling?
No I’m pretty positive it’s not your float. It’s sounds 99% like improper choke operation
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,461
Reaction score
4,572
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, c30 C&C, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350
The electric choke operates off vacuum when the engine starts up and that’s what controls the choke flap, once it warms up enough(that 1-2 minutes you have to play with tha pedal) after that it opens the choke all the way which is normal operating temp position, it just needs to have that key on 12v then it’ll work properly.

What he’s talking about is setting your manual high idle, all you have to do is flat foot the accelerator pedal before turning it over and that will set the mechanical high idle
 

84 Shorty

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2017
Posts
255
Reaction score
112
Location
Grovetown, GA
First Name
Andrew
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
The electric choke operates off vacuum when the engine starts up and that’s what controls the choke flap, once it warms up enough(that 1-2 minutes you have to play with tha pedal) after that it opens the choke all the way which is normal operating temp position, it just needs to have that key on 12v then it’ll work properly.

What he’s talking about is setting your manual high idle, all you have to do is flat foot the accelerator pedal before turning it over and that will set the mechanical high idle

My electric choke is fine, it has the 12V when ign is on. I even hit the gas pedal once before starting. PITA to keep running, I’m just going to rebuild the damn thing.
 

RustyPile

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2017
Posts
901
Reaction score
1,118
Location
Elkhart, TX
First Name
Nick
Truck Year
1983 GMC
Truck Model
1500
Engine Size
350 SBC
Make sure you have 12v at the carb though. Take a test light and make sure there’s 12v at the connector and if there isn’t then you’ll have to check the choke electrical system. Just one fuse and one wire.<<<<snip>>>>
This is not exactly correct.. Voltage appears at the choke ONLY when the engine is running.. Turn the ignition switch to "ON" and the choke light should come on.. Start the engine and the light goes out.. Some where on the engine, is an oil pressure sensor switch (not to be confused with the sensor for the pressure gauge or oil pressure light).. This sensor is a normally open switch. Oil pressure closes the switch and allows current/voltage to the choke.
 

RustyPile

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2017
Posts
901
Reaction score
1,118
Location
Elkhart, TX
First Name
Nick
Truck Year
1983 GMC
Truck Model
1500
Engine Size
350 SBC
The electric choke operates off vacuum when the engine starts up and that’s what controls the choke flap, once it warms up enough(that 1-2 minutes you have to play with tha pedal) after that it opens the choke all the way which is normal operating temp position, it just needs to have that key on 12v then it’ll work properly.

What he’s talking about is setting your manual high idle, all you have to do is flat foot the accelerator pedal before turning it over and that will set the mechanical high idle

With all due respect Reaper, This not how the choke works.. Inside the black plastic housing is a temperature sensitive bi-metal coil spring.. One end of the spring is stationary and the other end is attached to a lever. A rod connects this lever to an arm on the choke blade.. Cold ambient temperature causes the spring to wind up, turning the lever thus pulling the rod down, and the choke closes. This action also lifts a small cam to create "fast Idle".. When the engine starts, vacuum is applied to a choke pull, which in turn opens the choke blade slightly.. The voltage applied to the choke heats the bimetal spring causing it to "unwind", thus opening the choke over a period of 3 - 5 minutes depending on the outside temperature..

Before starting the engine, pump the gas pedal 2 - 3 times.. This does 3 things.... It "sets the choke", lifting the fast idle cam, and it introduces a small amount of gasoline into the intake manifold that makes it easier for the "fire to start burning"...
 

Dougnsalem

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2018
Posts
1,143
Reaction score
1,312
Location
.
First Name
.
Truck Year
.
Truck Model
.
Engine Size
.
It doesn’t matter how long it sits, the choke plate is always wide open. It’s closed in the pic because I manually closed it.The electric choke is wired to a 12v ign source.


You must be registered for see images attach






xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,126
Posts
909,678
Members
33,619
Latest member
SMC2224
Top