Won't start, bad choke?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,508
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Won't start, bad choke?
It's 40-some degrees today for a change and I wanted to start the Vette and run it for a little while. I hadn't driven it in about 3 weeks due to excessively cold weather so I figured I better make sure it runs right since I'll have to move it to our other garage to work on it. I cranked on the started and the engine turned over but it wouldn't fire, when I finally got it to fire it was really rough and wouldn't stay running. I couldn't get it much above 600rpm. The whole car was shaking. I'm thinking the choke is stuck or failed.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
Re: Won't start, bad choke? (Schmucker)
It sounds like the choke but other things could cause this. Take off the air cleaner lid and take a look. The butterfly that closes over the top of the carb. should be closed when the choke is set. If it isn't your choke is not setting. IF you have a helper, they can hold that butterfly closed (lightly)and it should fire up. If this works, I would say choke. If the choke butterfly IS closed, start to look for vacuum lines that have popped off, spark plug wires that have come loose. I have also had dist. caps crack in just this situation. Cold day - first start up but the cracks are not always noticable. If you have a spare, or havn't replaced in a while, this is a good time to do so if other things check out.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: San Bernardino CA
Re: Won't start, bad choke? (Schmucker)
Also, I'd check the fuel filter just to make sure that's not the problem. Sounds like you're not getting enough gas at idle so it could be that. If not then maybe just a good carb cleaning would do the trick.!! Good-Luck!!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,943
Likes: 44
From: Florham Park NJ Port Credit Ontario
Re: Won't start, bad choke? (Schmucker)
I had the same problem this fall when the temp dropped. Turned out to be a choke issue with mine. Also, depending on what type of carb you are running, I found out I had a bad accelerator pump in the carb.
