How to hook up my electric choke?

[76k5blazerr]

Hey guys I was hoping somebody could give me specific instructions on hooking up my electric choke, I have a 350 with an edelbrock 1406 carb, it's been starting fine till the cold weather hit, now it takes forever to start in the cold. My electric choke is currently not hooked up, can somebody tell me where to run the positive wire to? And the ground, should it go to the battery or somewhere else. And how do I verify that the choke is working properly once I hook it up? Thanks for the help.

 

[ryoken]

the ground you can put right to a manifold, carb, bracket bolt right on the intake..

the power should at least be an "ign on" source.. but better yet is if your alternator has a small "power when running" post on the back.. that only put's out voltage when the alt is spinning..

that is the ideal way.. that way if you just leave the ign key on, but don't start the rig, the choke doesn't go thru it's cycle and open.. it only starts the opening cycle once the truck is running... it's how we wire all the carb'd boats...

 

[Blue85]

My factory setup is long gone, but I thought the electric choke feed came from an oil pressure switch. That way going "key on" won't waste battery heating the choke and the thing isn't heating when the engine isn't. Just like what Ryoken is saying, but I don't think I've seen terminals like that on stock alternators? You would have to consult a wiring diagram or just measure for 12V on the oil pressure switch to confirm whether it's high-side or low-side.

 

[76k5blazerr]

So I can hook the power wire to any ign. On source on the fuse box and hook up a ground and I'm good to go?

 

[diesel4me]

Your truck may already have a fuse spot for the choke factory,depending on the year,you'll see "CHOKE" on the fuse box--if not you can use one of the accessory taps that only gets power with the key in the "on" position only ,(make sure it gets no power in the accessory position ,or the choke will open while your listening to the radio,etc,you dont want that )-and add a fuse holder and fuse..a 10 amp should be enough,I'm not sure what GM used factory...

 

[76k5blazerr]

And I should be able to tell that the choke is working right? I should see the choke closed when I turn the key on and then slowly open up right?

 

[ryoken]

yes.. and blue may be right on the oil pressure switch.. it would act the same way as what I described and work fine...

and no, I don't remember if stock alts in these have that post.. they may or may not, common in my industry..

 

[76k5blazerr]

Ok so I hooked up the choke exactly how it was supposed to be hooked up and I'm getting nothing, no action from the choke at all. Nothing. What now?

 

[ryoken]

did you check to make sure it's getting 12 volts?

if so, turn the power off, and try adjusting it by loosening the 3 screws and turning the outer housing..

you want it to move the blade from open to close when turning the housing.. set it up so it just goes to the closed position.. tighten.. put power to it and make it moves thru it's cycle...

 

[76k5blazerr]

Ok, I did that last night, it worked, my choke flap was set so far in the open position that it had no where to go once the choke did warm up, I rotaded the black choke cover till the flap was almost closed and it works now, thanks a lot everybody