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Electric Choke help/advise

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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 09:05 PM
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Default Electric Choke help/advise

Hi gang, I'm stumpted and need some advise.
first My '81 is box stock, original everything, one owner....me. It has an electric choke.
I noticed the choke lite on the speedo was on and I swear I could hear a faint noise coming from under the dash somewhere. Well, on further investigation...the noise and the choke lite stopped when I pulled the choke wire off.
Here's the deal...choke wire (unplugged) gets full voltage when engine is running. In the manual it says that the choke heater goes through the oil sending unit and shows a mini schematic to that effect.
It says that if no voltage is encountered that one should replace the sending unit....also that the oil lite will be on in this case. could they mean the choke lite? All these years, I wasn't aware of an 'oil' lite.
Also if voltage is encountered while the engine is running that the choke coil needs replacement.

I can't be the only one that has had this happen......Any suggestions?
Thanks
Gerry
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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 09:20 PM
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check your choke heater fuse -20 amp at the top
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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 09:40 PM
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Looks like the Oil light gets its ground thru the choke. With the engine off, key on, choke connected, the Oil Light should be on, This for light test, it will be dim I would guess. Ground the choke connector and the light should go bright (don't do this with the engine running) With the engine off and key on you should get some voltage at the choke terminal and with the engine running it should be 14+. If the light comes on with the engine running, or if the light does not come on with the engine off and key on, the gauge fuse is bad.
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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 10:26 PM
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Sixfooter-OK what the he!!-I'm lost here-what book are you guys using?My book isnt even close to your guys!!Oil light?
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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 11:16 PM
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In all the years of owning this car, I've never seen an oil light.
Could they mean choke light in the manual, I'm using an old original 81 service manual, got it from a friend at Chevrolet back in 82, and have over the years found a few glitches in it.
I do have a choke light spelling the word choke.
What do you think?

Gerry
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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by texfed
In all the years of owning this car, I've never seen an oil light.
Could they mean choke light in the manual, I'm using an old original 81 service manual, got it from a friend at Chevrolet back in 82, and have over the years found a few glitches in it.
I do have a choke light spelling the word choke.
What do you think?

Gerry
I'm not sure I dont show this in my GM Corvette Shop manual #st-364-81-I was hoping Sixfooter would respond he's good on this electrical.If your manual is same # what page are you on?http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...en/card002.jpg I did it!!!!!

Last edited by ...Roger...; Aug 28, 2006 at 11:44 PM.
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Old Aug 28, 2006 | 11:45 PM
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OK does your look like this? By this diagram the choke light would come on if the green wire finds a ground through the choke heater.If the alt. light is on the choke light should light.If the choke heater fuse is blown it should come on.Sixfooter how does this heater relay work?Lack of ground from alt. closes relay and provides heater with current?

Last edited by ...Roger...; Aug 29, 2006 at 12:50 AM.
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 09:52 AM
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ttt
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 10:06 AM
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Hmm, nope. My book is GM 1981 Corvette Shop Manual Page 6D-1 is where I was looking. got to figger out what the diff is now..
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
Hmm, nope. My book is GM 1981 Corvette Shop Manual Page 6D-1 is where I was looking. got to figger out what the diff is now..
OK I see it now--never seen that before---gota go for now but I'll check it out on return!!!
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 02:14 PM
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OK, something looks strange with the schematic on page 8A-39.
In normal operation, key on, engine running;
There will be 12v applied to the relay term 250 from the choke heater fuse. There will also be 12vat term 25 from the Alternator pin 1, brn wire that provides a ground only if the alt fails, this also turns on the Gen Warning lamp.

Why does the schematic show a heater element in the relay? that should be a contact?

So, it looks like the relay is deinergized during normal operation and picks up and opens the contact if the alternator fails, only way it makes any sence. I will have to look at mine to see WTF, any idea where the choke relay is supposed to be?
The drawing on 6D-1 makes sence, but not the other one
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
OK, something looks strange with the schematic on page 8A-39.
In normal operation, key on, engine running;
There will be 12v applied to the relay term 250 from the choke heater fuse. There will also be 12vat term 25 from the Alternator pin 1, brn wire that provides a ground only if the alt fails, this also turns on the Gen Warning lamp.

Why does the schematic show a heater element in the relay? that should be a contact?

So, it looks like the relay is deinergized during normal operation and picks up and opens the contact if the alternator fails, only way it makes any sence. I will have to look at mine to see WTF, any idea where the choke relay is supposed to be?
The drawing on 6D-1 makes sence, but not the other one
The relay is under the center console-thats the clicking everybody talks about hearing-I've heard it also with the light on and I always look at the Choke Heater Fuse and it is usually blown and I have to replace it and the choke heater.Do you think after the choke is hot the relay could taper back so the heater is not so hot there by extending its life?It couldnt shut off because the light would come back on-right?Also where is your "oil light" ?
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 02:57 PM
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Sixfooter look on page 8C-29---the oil pressure switch is shown to be 1 wire not 2 as 6D-1A says-Hmmm-Is yours on your car 2 wire?
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Old Aug 29, 2006 | 06:50 PM
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there must be 2, the one wire on there is the one for the gauge

this at least makes a bit more sence, the heater relay on page 8c-32 has a coil and a set of contacts and looks like it only comes on, when there is a failure and that turns off the choke keater.

Last edited by SIXFOOTER; Aug 29, 2006 at 07:03 PM.
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