Idle problem?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 6
From: Palos Verdes Peninsula California
Idle problem?
With the colder weather I usually warm my 81 up for about 10 minutes or so before driving it.
When I initially start the car, it idles around 1100RPM. But after 2 minutes or so it shoots up to about 1700RPM and stays there until I go out and kick it down. It then returns to it's normal 6-700RPM idle. Is this normal??
When I initially start the car, it idles around 1100RPM. But after 2 minutes or so it shoots up to about 1700RPM and stays there until I go out and kick it down. It then returns to it's normal 6-700RPM idle. Is this normal??
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by JLinNY
With the colder weather I usually warm my 81 up for about 10 minutes or so before driving it.
When I initially start the car, it idles around 1100RPM. But after 2 minutes or so it shoots up to about 1700RPM and stays there until I go out and kick it down. It then returns to it's normal 6-700RPM idle. Is this normal??
When I initially start the car, it idles around 1100RPM. But after 2 minutes or so it shoots up to about 1700RPM and stays there until I go out and kick it down. It then returns to it's normal 6-700RPM idle. Is this normal??
sounds normal to me....and it sounds like you need to adjust your fast idle or possibly your choke depending on the type of choke you have.
when you touch the gas you are releasing the choke linkage that is holding the idle so high...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Yes it is. You're just used to modern fuel injection that keeps the rpm constant regardless of the engine temperature. On older carb systems the initial idle is set by a stop on the fast idle cam on the carb. When the car is dead cold it will idle slower at this setting and will then run faster as the engine and oil warms up.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by JLinNY
With the colder weather I usually warm my 81 up for about 10 minutes or so before driving it.
When I initially start the car, it idles around 1100RPM. But after 2 minutes or so it shoots up to about 1700RPM and stays there until I go out and kick it down. It then returns to it's normal 6-700RPM idle. Is this normal??
When I initially start the car, it idles around 1100RPM. But after 2 minutes or so it shoots up to about 1700RPM and stays there until I go out and kick it down. It then returns to it's normal 6-700RPM idle. Is this normal??
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by JLinNY
Thanks for the replies guys!! I had thought I read on here that the idle would lower itself, but either I misunderstood or the writer was wrong.
there is a fast idle system and the fast idle screw is resting on a cam that may or may not be controlled by the automatic choke....in any event once its warmed and you touch the accelerator linkages the cam moves ...you should look at this closely maybe something is hanging up that carb cleaner would be able to clean and make work better.
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