How does an electric choke work?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
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From: Duvall, WA
How does an electric choke work?
I'm going to put an Edelbrock electric choke on my Q-Jet when I install my L98 aluminum heads. I know it's a simple install, but I'm curious as to how the electric choke functions. What tells it that the engine has warmed up? On my hot air choke, the metal coil expands as it gets hot.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,384
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The electric choke functions completely independent of engine temperature - it does not "know" when the engine has warmed up. Current is passed through a small heater coil in the choke housing cover (the black round dial) and this heating element heats up the bimetallic coil to open the choke. The choke opens purely as a function of how long current is applied to the heating element.
