Have a brand new Performer 500 on the car, been on it about a month now. I just got back from a trip (didn't drive the car Monday-Thursday, got back on Friday and drove it) and since I've been back, at startup the electric choke hasn't... well... electrically choked. 99% of cold starts since it was put on, it's worked great. But the last few cold starts, nothing. Had to foot it for warmup. Not a huge deal, but it is a nice feature. Any idea what would be wrong here? Checked the connections, they are fine.

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-Anthony
1962 Plymouth Valiant Signet 200

Have you tried adjusting it? Loosening the three mounting screws and rotating it?

Test light time,make sure you're getting the required 12volts.Been running mine for couple years now still working fine,possible that the 'smoke' got out it

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

If the choke is not closing, it's not an electrical problem, but a mechanical one. The "electric" part is the heater that causes the choke to open gradually as the engine warms up. Take it apart and look for binding, broken or missing pieces.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Doh Thanks for catching that Dan,had my mind else where thinking/watching about the 4 cops murdered over in Tacoma area this morning.

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

Just so I'm clear SSD, do you mean just 'take apart' the electric choke related parts, or dig into the carb?? The thing's brand new a month ago... what would have broken? My luck can't be THAT bad that it'd be some major component? Stupid frickin' Murphy...

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-Anthony
1962 Plymouth Valiant Signet 200

Remove the three screws and clips retaining the big black plastic choke coil housing. Remove the choke coil housing. Make sure the spring itself isn't broken and the tab that contacts the spring isn't broken.

See pages 8 and 9 of The Edelbrock carb owner's manual

"The length of time during which the choke will stay closed is determined by the position of the choke cap. As the choke cap is turned clockwise the choke will stay closed longer. To properly set the choke loosen the chock housing retaining screws then turn the choke cap to the leanest notch on the choke housing and run the engine until normal operating temperature is reached. With the engine running, slowly turn the choke cap clockwise until the choke valve begins to close. Now turn the choke housing one notch counterclockwise (lean) and tighten the choke housing retaining screws. Periodic readjustment of the choke will be required as the temperature changes throughout the year. It is recommended that you use the notches in the choke housing as a reference, one notch clockwise for rich or one notch counterclockwise for lean. After each adjustment verify that the choke valve opens fully after the engine is warm."

I busted out my manual, but Murphy struck me before I could even get into the carb: apparently I don't have the correct size allen or star driver to even get the damned thing open. Wish I could find my slightly-better tool set in storage than the cobbled-together set I have now... there's a nice old gap between the 5/32 and 1/8th that I don't seem to have. 9/64?

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-Anthony
1962 Plymouth Valiant Signet 200

Every one I have ever seen used phillips head screws.

This one has star screws...

But how's this for irony. I get in the car to go out and sdo some stuff-- including getting the appropriate tool for the carb job. And the thing freakin' works like magic. It hadn't done it ONCE since getting back from my trip, so of course I go asking about it, and as soon as I'm ready to do something about it, turns out it does still work. I'll keep track of what it does or doesn't do the next few days, and if it starts to not work again I'll take a look at it... wtf... I have such strange luck sometimes... from both ways...

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-Anthony
1962 Plymouth Valiant Signet 200

Look at the up side,this gives you the op to pick up some Torx bits so you'll be all set next time I like those screwdriver thingy's with all the bits stored in the handle,glovebox friendly

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

All it needed to work was to know that someone cared about it.

Well when I went out just a while ago, it didn't work again, so, looks like the battle of wits begins........

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-Anthony
1962 Plymouth Valiant Signet 200

Update:

Was going to investigate the choke problem recently, then rain started coming. Decided I'd check it out after the rain passes and it's dry and I can go under my hood...

But for some reason, past few startups the choke has been working great! I'm befuddled, but I think I will check it out when it dries up anyway... wierdness...

ALSO: tonight, got home, put car in N, footed my parking brake... and my parking brake warning light actually turned ON. The story behind this is a buddy and I installed it like 4 years ago. It worked a few times that week, and never worked again. Until tonight. Haha. I popped the brake off to see if it would do it again, thought maybe my magic it would start working again... and it didn't. So it was a one timer. =)

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-Anthony
1962 Plymouth Valiant Signet 200