electric choke question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
electric choke question
I went out to the Vette on Saturday to piddle around. I touched the electric choke and it was very hot to the touch. I'm no electric choke expert - in fact I have no clue how they work. But I would swear that it shouldn't be hot to the touch. Im guessing that is where my electrical draw is at and why I have to keep a battery tender on the car all of the time.
Am I right? or is the electric choke supposed to be HOT.
I hadn't driven teh car for a week so everything else was cold.
Jeremy
Am I right? or is the electric choke supposed to be HOT.
I hadn't driven teh car for a week so everything else was cold.
Jeremy
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces NM
The electric choke should be warm/hot to the touch when the car is running, but not when the car is off. Where do you have it wired to? It should be wired to a circuit that cuts voltage when the key is off.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Originally Posted by Nacho_Libre
The electric choke should be warm/hot to the touch when the car is running, but not when the car is off. Where do you have it wired to? It should be wired to a circuit that cuts voltage when the key is off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Originally Posted by Nacho_Libre
The electric choke should be warm/hot to the touch when the car is running, but not when the car is off. Where do you have it wired to? It should be wired to a circuit that cuts voltage when the key is off.
In other words, don't hook it up to a hot lead that has 12v applied to it while the car is turned off. If you have a voltmeter find a connection that has 12v only when the key is in the 'On' position.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Seems when I installed my elec choke Holley believe the instructions said something like 'wire the choke to a constant 12v source' which lead me to believe it needed to be unswitched. Burnt the shiat out my hand on it one day and my brain logic center said 'why the hell do you need a constant 12 v source?' along with 'unhooked it NOW or you will burn up your vette you dumba$$!'. I immediately unhooked it and wired it to a switched source, not problems since.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Originally Posted by Fevre
Seems when I installed my elec choke Holley believe the instructions said something like 'wire the choke to a constant 12v source' which lead me to believe it needed to be unswitched. \
http://www.holley.com/data/Products/...99R10219-3.pdf
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
yep, that's my problem then. I'll disconnect that puppy and find a switched 12v source. I couldn't find the drain on the battery either because I think it is hooked to a constant 12v source that doesn't route from the fuse block.
That makes me happy. I'll be able to set the stations on the radio and not worry about hooking up the charger etc.
Jeremy
That makes me happy. I'll be able to set the stations on the radio and not worry about hooking up the charger etc.
Jeremy
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,126
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From: Hudson Falls, N.Y. 76 Vette Modified L-48
I hooked my e-choke to the hot wire going to the wiper motor...only on when key is on...battery draw the way you had it hooked up? Yup...in a big way...and suprised ya didn't burn it up, must be able to stand the constant heat...car will probably start better too, once the choke is working 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
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From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
I've temporarily disconnected the choke wires and have them out of harms way. I won't be able to drive it 4 2 weeks (batt usually dies after 3-4 days) so I'll come back to it and see if my batt is good. If so, I'll be switching that electric choke around.
Of course I have a Q-jet I want to put on anyway and it doens't have an electric choke - but at least I'll have it right in the meantime.
Thanks for all the responses.
Of course I have a Q-jet I want to put on anyway and it doens't have an electric choke - but at least I'll have it right in the meantime.
Thanks for all the responses.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Still have the elec choke disconnected, it started fine after 4 days (usually battery is dead in 2-3 days) thought it was peachy. Came drove it briefly on Friday and then put her back in teh garage for the weekend (out of town) battery dead when I get back Sunday evening. Oh well.
So, Like I said above my q-jet has a hot air choke and not a electric. but I want to put it in place of the holley. While out of town my brother had an old 2 barrel GM carb he was throwing away. It happened to have an electric choke, so he let me have it. I got home last night and put that electric choke on my q-jet - perfect fit. I think it came off of a 267cid smallblock of some mid-late seventies car? Anyway, it has a 6v stamped on the side of the choke cover. Do I need to run 6 volts to it, or does it stand for something else. If I do need 6volts to it, how do I get 6 volts from my 12volt system??
So, Like I said above my q-jet has a hot air choke and not a electric. but I want to put it in place of the holley. While out of town my brother had an old 2 barrel GM carb he was throwing away. It happened to have an electric choke, so he let me have it. I got home last night and put that electric choke on my q-jet - perfect fit. I think it came off of a 267cid smallblock of some mid-late seventies car? Anyway, it has a 6v stamped on the side of the choke cover. Do I need to run 6 volts to it, or does it stand for something else. If I do need 6volts to it, how do I get 6 volts from my 12volt system??
any help on the "6v" on the side of the GM electric choke?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
The first electric choke I ever saw was off of a Marine Holly 4 bbl in the mid 70's and it was 12v and every electric choke I've seen since then has been 12v. They haven't had a 6v system in an american car since the 50's, that I'm aware of, so I would say its unlikely that the choke you have would require only 6v. It's possible but unlikely.
