Hello,

Since few weeks, the choke light doesn't work anymore on my car ('84 Trans AM with LG4 E4ME carbed engine)

Bulb is ok (I checked it and even swap it with a new one), choke heater fuse is ok (and the other fuses at the fuse box too), and choke heater seems to work as he gets warm with ignition in the "run" position and engine runs finely when cold.
I also replaced the choke relay but it didn't make a difference.

I also experience another problem which is tied to the choke light, it's the alternator.

It appears to work fine, but there is a difference on the gauges since I have this issue with the choke light.
Before it read around 13V with engine idling and around 14-15V with engine running above 1500 rpm.
Now it reads around 11 / 11.5 V with engine idling and hardly 13V with engine running above 1500 rpm.
I know the values read on the gauges aren't really reliable but I would like to know why there is a difference in the reading.
I measured the voltage directly on the battery, with the engine running at around 1000 rpm and I read 13.5V

So, I don't know what to think, because if my alternator was shot, the choke light should stay on with the engine running, and the choke would stick, preventing the engine from running correctly (I've already experienced that years ago).

So if someone has an idea, it would greatly help me.

Thanks !!

 

What's the resistance of the choke coil?

 

To be honest, I didn't measured it.

But I might have find a clue of what could be wrong. It could simply be the... battery

Fed up with searching for anything that could be wrong, I decided to try with a battery from my daily car.

I installed it, turned the ignition switch to run (without starting the engine) and voilà, the choke light worked

So I will buy a new battery as it is true the actual one was quite old (3-4 years old) and as the car doesn't run too often, it could be shot (I used many times a battery charger since few weeks, as it was discharged quite often between each drive).

I will let you know as soon as I installed the new battery. But I am very surprized it could have prevented the choke light from working, it isn't explained in the shop manual.

 

Hello,

Ok, it seems my car had both a battery and alternator problem.

I changed both of them and I bought an alternator more powerful than the old one (78A against 94A).

But I still have something I consider an issue with the choke light.

As I explained, when everything worked fine (since 7 years till few weeks ago), when I put the key on the "ignition" position, I had the lights "check engine" and "choke" which were on.
Then, when I put the key on the "run" position, both lights went off at the same time as the engine started.

Now, when I put the key on the "ignition" position, only the "check engine" light is on.
When I turn the key on the "run" position", "choke light" is on but only when you hear the engine cranking ("check engine" remains on). When the engine is fully running, both lights went off at the same time.

So my question is : when "choke" light should light and then go off ??
As English is not my mother language, I am not sure I've fully understood what they say about it on the "owner's manual".

Thanks for your answers !!

 

La lumière doit être allumée tandis que le moteur ne tourne pas, et ne doit pas être allumée tandis que le moteur tourne. N'est pas important si la lumière est allumée ou pas tandis que le moteur démarre.

 

Hey thanks for your answer in French !!

So, according to your answer, I have to find why it doesn't light when engine is not running, key on "ignition".

I have a old choke which is normally still good. I will swap them and see what happens.

 

I've measured the voltage at the choke coil and I read around 11.9V engine running (so I can say 12V to make things easier).

And in the shop manual, they say that if you find something in the range 12-15V, the choke coil is shot and needs to be replaced.

So I believe that's what I will do with it.

I just need to find a place where I can find a new one.

 

Ok, here I come again.

I can't solve this problem of choke light which doesn't light on.

I've checked again all the fuses, the choke light bulb (which is good, the light comes on when I pull off the associated fuse on the fuse box), the alternator is new and the choke and relay are working as the choke coil is getting hotter and hotter when the engine is warming when cold.

Is there a ground hidden somewhere between the choke coil and the choke light, which could cause the light from not getting on ??

Thanks