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why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:27 pm
by mickycapri
it seems as though my choke likes to make me sh1t myself.

if i start her up, she fires into life with an almighty roar (one pump on the gas prior to turning key) then idles at about 1200 but every now and again it goes up or down by 100rpm
it actually sounds like its reving for a split second. then the idle speed drops again to about 1k then can go back up.

could this be because she only gets turned over for about 10 minutes a day?

the oil pressure is right at the very top of the dial too but comes down as car warms up. oil change? i think sooo

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:55 pm
by Beakster
Automatic choke can be troublesome because they are all over 20 years old now. They heat up and cool down, which changes their properties. They contain a bimetalic spring which wears over time and expands less. And the carb in general contains moving parts, seals, gaskets, and passages for fuel, air and water, all of which wear, leak, get blocked etc over time.

Best thing to do is a complete carb rebuild, checking and replacing parts as necessary, then its good for another 20 years.

You case of the car revving itself (hunting I believe its called) could be caused by some blocked up idle jets. Try blowing some carb cleaner through them.

Also my revs at idle used to wander a bit before I replaced my points with electronic ignition, then they were rock solid.

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:14 pm
by dixy1949
oil pressure will drop as the engine warms up so gets thinner, at operating temperature should be about half way up the gauge at tickover, don,t worry if lower as it only needs about 7 psi to form an oil wedge in the mains & big ends. worth keeping up to the max mark on the dipstick as it also acts as a coolant in the bores & for the pistons.

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:40 pm
by mickycapri
got her warmed up yesterday and the oil pressure went down to about half when the temp went up. gunna take out the oil spray bar tomorrow and soak it in every fluid i can find that will break oil down and re-check the clearences i don't like the ticking sound.

does anyone else have a quiet ticking sound? and there is a bit of vibration in the steering wheel and gear stick at idle.

god you can tell i'm getting paranoid about stuff now

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:07 pm
by Terra-Kotta
What ive done (for the last 18 year) is to rip every auto choke out, and throw it in the bin, there, no choke, problem solved!

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:09 pm
by Beakster
Terra-Kotta wrote:What ive done (for the last 18 year) is to rip every auto choke out, and throw it in the bin, there, no choke, problem solved!
Until you drive to work in winter and it stalls at every set of traffic lights and junction until the engine warms up. :xd:

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:04 am
by Huw
Left foot braking. :D

I've never got the hang of heel & toeing, but got very good at knocking it into neutral and braking with the left foot while the right keeps enough throttle on to keep the engine running.

Commuted for 18 months in Birmingham in the 2.1 like that.

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:11 am
by Peter-S
Beakster wrote:
Terra-Kotta wrote:What ive done (for the last 18 year) is to rip every auto choke out, and throw it in the bin, there, no choke, problem solved!
Until you drive to work in winter and it stalls at every set of traffic lights and junction until the engine warms up. :xd:
Fiddling around with my carb in the garage to get it throughthe emissions test for the mot just over a week ago I dislodged the operating rod for the auto choke although I didn't know it. Used the car a few days later when it was pretty cold - she started but didn't want to stay running and was a real bitch to drive. Stalled pulling out onto a roundabout in front of a big lorry despite giving it extra revs :shock:
You do it yout way Glyn but I fixed the choke when I got home and its heaps better now :D

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:07 am
by Major_Tom
Terra-Kotta wrote:What ive done (for the last 18 year) is to rip every auto choke out, and throw it in the bin, there, no choke, problem solved!
Yeah you don't need a choke. Balls to chokes, I say.

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:48 am
by Preacher man
i removed the choke and also the piss flaps from the top of the carb.

3 to 5 pumps of the pedal , start the car with the clutch depressed

Bingo....starts first time , however for winter use i have upped the tick over to 1000/1100 rpm.

The auto choke on mine was all gunged up/rusty. I also serviced the carb and changed the inlet manifold gasket as the tickover was all over the place last year..she is nice now.

Neil

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:59 pm
by Terra-Kotta
Preacher man wrote:i removed the choke and also the piss flaps from the top of the carb.

3 to 5 pumps of the pedal , start the car with the clutch depressed

Bingo....starts first time , however for winter use i have upped the tick over to 1000/1100 rpm.

The auto choke on mine was all gunged up/rusty. I also serviced the carb and changed the inlet manifold gasket as the tickover was all over the place last year..she is nice now.

Neil
Thats it :cool: enjoy improved performace and MPG.

The reason peters played up was the job was only half done, yes the rod fell off but the inrichment device was still in place, and thats on top of piss flaps chattering about, do it right and set the carb up and they are perfect with no choke at all!

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 5:22 pm
by mickycapri
i recon i'll leave the choke on lol

its not causing any problems its just a bit of a niggle

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:04 pm
by LaserCapri
Huw wrote:Left foot braking. :D

I've never got the hang of heel & toeing, but got very good at knocking it into neutral and braking with the left foot while the right keeps enough throttle on to keep the engine running.

Commuted for 18 months in Birmingham in the 2.1 like that.
Im the opposite i had to learn how to heal toe but could never get hold of the left foot braking i cant adjust to the difference in pressure with pushing the brake with my left foot compared to the clutch. Drove like that for the past 2 years but just sorted my choke now so im sorted. Would love to get the hang of left foot braking though.

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:24 pm
by Terra-Kotta
LaserCapri wrote:
Huw wrote:Left foot braking. :D

I've never got the hang of heel & toeing, but got very good at knocking it into neutral and braking with the left foot while the right keeps enough throttle on to keep the engine running.

Commuted for 18 months in Birmingham in the 2.1 like that.
Im the opposite i had to learn how to heal toe but could never get hold of the left foot braking i cant adjust to the difference in pressure with pushing the brake with my left foot compared to the clutch. Drove like that for the past 2 years but just sorted my choke now so im sorted. Would love to get the hang of left foot braking though.
Left foot braking took me years and years to get right (and a couple of bent bumpers) because in your mind your left foot is the clutch foot and the instinct is to push it too the floor, heel and toe-ing the brake and throttle is dead east, the reaction is normal to control rhe brake with your right foot toes, and use your heel to cover the throttle... after a bit of prectise second nature.

at the end of the day you all need to remember these cars have carbs, basic devices that are a far cry from the fuel injected cars you all learned to drive in.. the upshot is set up correctly and usually away from factory spec (remember fuel ratings have changed lots) they are miles better than most injection systems this side of throttle bodies... i allways get "well, it wont start first time" personally mine used to start on the 14th-ish attempt but that wasnt a million miles off a race/rally spec top end and the guy that laughs at me trying to start my car will be laughing on the other side of his face when his £35,000 7 speed merc couldnt get past my little 4 speed 2 litre on the bypass (yes, it did happen quite a few times :mrgreen: ).

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:02 pm
by mickycapri
4 speed? pah mine has 5 8-) 6 if you include reverse haha

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:04 pm
by spireman
Remove the auto choke mechanism and fit a manual choke conversion kit, I have done this on the last three Capri's i've owned.

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:33 pm
by Terra-Kotta
mickycapri wrote:4 speed? pah mine has 5 8-) 6 if you include reverse haha
Yeah??? and my old 4 speed with 3.77 diff would piss all over yours...FACT! my pinto 4 speed with 3.77 (1.6 ratio) would have outrun all 7 of my 2.8i 5 speeds on top end by 3mph going by speedo readings... it was a lot faster top end than my 3 litre and my 3.1 (both 4 speed with 3.09 atlases).

4 gears that work are better than 5 that dont!! .. youre welcome to your magic wand chocolate type 9 (ive got a pile of the bloody things down the garden if your interested).

i pull out 5 speeds and throw em away and fit 4 speeds (iether type 3 single rail or Type E rocket), been doing it a rather long time too....

(here we go again)... can... worms....the old 4 vs 5 chesnut... he started it everyone, not me!!!

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:51 pm
by mickycapri
WOW... you didn't half take offence to that lol.

it should be classed as a 2 speed with the way its set up. i have 2 speeds... fast and faster.
no inbetween and no slowness.

scared the shite out of my driving instructor last week.
i convinced him to sit in the passenger seat with me and with the trouble i had setting off in her at the time i had to either set off really slow or nearly spin out.
some prick in an escort wouldnt keep waiting for me to set off and blew past me, so me with my big triangle L sign on the roof decided to blast it and overtake him just as i noticed that the road ran out and had to turn right very quickly into a very small road :drive:

i've not heard frommy instructor since .

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:53 pm
by Terra-Kotta
mickycapri wrote:WOW... you didn't half take offence to that lol.
Nah, not at all.... i just hate type 9's

Re: why are automatic chokes such a pain in the arse?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:47 pm
by Huw
Another vote for the 4-speed box. :D

And my right foot just don't seem to be happy trying to do 2 things at once, I'd either end up revving the tits off it, or not stopping! :doh:

Weirdly, took me less than a month to get the hang of left foot braking. Not done it since I had my last carb'd car (Sierra P100 with a 2.8 on a carb), so might take a while to get back in the habbit if I had to do it again.