Howdy. I have an 86 Chev 1 ton, 454 and auto.
And of course I have a problem and a case of the stupids today.
The choke light and fast idle are staying on all the time.
I figured a short in the choke wiring and haven't found anything.
And someone also took the screws out of the choke housing and
replaced them with stinkin rivits.
Where should I start looking ?
This time of year I can force the choke open and change the
fast idle to get by but this problem is starting to irritate me.
Have pity on me, I'm a nerd by trade and half-assed shade tree
mechanic
but I've never really had to do much to this truck in the 10 years
I've had
it.
Randy
Randy@MeinerSolutions.com
In article
<edf344c5-935b-4a7a-8b2d-da3c2bac9996@c58g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>,
> Howdy. I have an 86 Chev 1 ton, 454 and auto.
> And of course I have a problem and a case of the stupids today.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Where should I start looking ?
Choke heater fuse, oil pressure switch.
Power comes into the fuse block, passes thru the choke heater fuse, goes
to the oil pressure switch which is a NO switch until oil pressure sends
it closed, power then goes to the choke heater.
There is another wire on the cold side of the oil pressure switch that
goes to one side of the choke warning light, the other side of the
warning light is fed power on the ignition feed that feeds the entire
instrument cluster, when everything is working as it should, there is 12
volts on both sides of the choke warning light and it does not light,
when power is lost via the oil pressure switch, 12 volts from the choke
warning light finds a path to ground thru the choke heater and the
warning light illuminates.
rjmacres@yahoo.com - 23 Jul 2008 02:12 GMT
> Choke heater fuse, oil pressure switch.
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> warning light finds a path to ground thru the choke heater and the
> warning light illuminates.
Thanks for the info. That sure sounds like a real convoluted setup.
Randy
aarcuda69062 - 23 Jul 2008 06:14 GMT
In article
<dabd0342-e1ef-4c91-9edb-7363bdb46a70@34g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
> > Choke heater fuse, oil pressure switch.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Randy
It's quite basic actually.
A fuse to protect the circuit, a switch to make sure that the choke only
heats when the engine is running and a warning circuit which operates
basically the same way GM alternator warning lights have since day one.
You had also mentioned rivets holding the choke stat on...
The rivets are how the factory built it, reason being was to make the
choke stat somewhat tamper proof.
rjmacres@yahoo.com - 23 Jul 2008 15:13 GMT
> It's quite basic actually.
> A fuse to protect the circuit, a switch to make sure that the choke only
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> The rivets are how the factory built it, reason being was to make the
> choke stat somewhat tamper proof.- Hide quoted text -
I'm used to working on old VW's and just older cars in general. On
those
when a fuse blows it cuts the juice to that circuit. On this Chev,
the fuse
blows and the choke light comes on. Backwards to me but I'm known
for being easily confused.
Randy
rjmacres@yahoo.com - 23 Jul 2008 15:11 GMT
> Choke heater fuse, oil pressure switch.
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> warning light finds a path to ground thru the choke heater and the
> warning light illuminates.
Fuse was blown. I put a new and my last 20amp fuse in, started it
up and pop, new fuse blew. Guess I'm back to looking for a short
right ?
Or could something else be causing it to blow ?
Randy
aarcuda69062 - 23 Jul 2008 22:16 GMT
In article
<de8b164b-e727-4ef0-852a-6fd25e2e1d8c@m73g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,
> > Choke heater fuse, oil pressure switch.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> up and pop, new fuse blew. Guess I'm back to looking for a short
> right ?
Yup.
> Or could something else be causing it to blow ?
if it popped right quick, it's probably a short to ground somewhere.
rjmacres@yahoo.com - 23 Jul 2008 22:23 GMT
> In article
> <de8b164b-e727-4ef0-852a-6fd25e2e1...@m73g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> if it popped right quick, it's probably a short to ground somewhere.- Hide quoted text -
I called it a day after I had a temper tantrum still trying to find
tools.
Will pick up a new multimeter, test light and a bunch of fuses
tommorow
when we go to town for supplies.
And yep, it popped real quick, not even sure I had done much more then
turn the key but will retest when I get some fuses.
I sure hope the mice didn't get into it. They've caused us lots of
damage
and headaches this past year.
Randy
Steve W. - 23 Jul 2008 23:44 GMT
>> In article
>> <de8b164b-e727-4ef0-852a-6fd25e2e1...@m73g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>
> Randy
Go buy a short finder. They are basically nothing more than a modified
compass and a circuit breaker with clips on the leads. The breaker
open/closes the circuit and you follow the wire with the meter. When you
get to the short the needle stops moving.
Another item that works pretty well is to use a low voltage detector and
a circuit breaker. In that system you follow the wire with the voltage
detector and watch for the light to go out.

Signature
Steve W.
rjmacres@yahoo.com - 24 Jul 2008 00:20 GMT
> Go buy a short finder. They are basically nothing more than a modified
> compass and a circuit breaker with clips on the leads. The breaker
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> --
> Steve W
Now that sounds like a plan.
What kind of store would I find one of those in ?
We live out the boonies and the nearest town is real small and not
many options for hardware or automotive.
Randy
Big Al - 25 Jul 2008 23:00 GMT
> Go buy a short finder. They are basically nothing more than a modified
> compass and a circuit breaker with clips on the leads. The breaker
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> circuit breaker. In that system you follow the wire with the voltage
> detector and watch for the light to go out.
Or clip a large 12 volt bulb, like a tail/stop across the fuse and start
looking. When you find the short the light will go out. A short finder is
available at Harbor Freight. It's just a circuit breaker and a magnetic
ammeter.
Al
rjmacres@yahoo.com - 26 Jul 2008 20:42 GMT
> Or clip a large 12 volt bulb, like a tail/stop across the fuse and start
> looking. When you find the short the light will go out. A short finder is
> available at Harbor Freight. It's just a circuit breaker and a magnetic
> ammeter.
>
> Al
I keep a 12v bulb/wire/alligator clip setup around all the time. Good
for
all sorts of things but my main use for it is static timing VW motors.
Bad thing is right now I can't find it. Between moving, new shop not
being
completely done and my wife cleaning the little shop, I'm screwed and
can't
find much of anything.
I did swing by the local autoparts store and pick up some stuff to
help track
the short down. Just need to find some time to get back to it.
Randy