I just put together a LG4 with a computer controlled Q-Jet for a freind, is the Q-jet supposed to tick before the engine gets fired, like if you just turn the key to the on position? It seems to be coming from the blue electrical connection on the top of the carb, it goes away once the car starts turning over. Thanks!

 

That's the sound of the mixture control solenoid doing its dance.

 

Yes it is supposed to do that.

It does not stop when the car is running. It is always doing it. The name of the part that ticks is the "mixture control solenoid". It's how the ECM controls the mixture. There are tapered rods in the jets that meter the fuel; the ECM varies the proportion of the time that the large part or the small part of the rods is in the jets, thereby richening or leaning the mixture as it sees fit. The blue plug on top of the carb is part of the system in question.

 

Thanks guys, i knew it probably wasnt anything, because the engine started right up, the only reason I asked was i never had any experience with CC Q-jet, never even drove one, and we dropped the engine in last week and put the carb on and when i turned the key to the on position it scared the sh** out of me because I just got done wiring the starter and thought I had wired something wrong, but thanks alot for your help guys!

 

Chevys tick any time the key is in the run postion (well for the first minute or so, then it shuts it off). Other cars like Olds, Buick, Caddys that use similar carbs don't click the carb unless the motor is running. I guess it freaks out the old-heads who drive those cars to hear that clicking as soon as they turn the key. "My goodness, Reginald, do you hear that noise the engine in our brand new Oldsmobile is making? I think we should take it to the dealership and complain about it!" I guess GM figured Chevy people wouldn't worry about it as much.