Ok, so I'm somewhat new to this...got a couple of questions related to the Choke Heater.

First, I've got an '84 Camaro Berlinetta with the Digital Dash. The engine and carb have been replaced with an Edelbrock 350 crate and performance carb. I have an electric choke, and all of this was installed by the PO.

After getting the car I noticed it was a little tough to crank from cold. While doing some other work I found a blown fuse in the under-dash fuse box marked C/H. I did some research and found out it was a fuse for the factory installed choke heater. I replaced the fuse and the car began starting much better. Problem solved. Or so I thought.

Today, after having not driven the car in a week, I turn on the car and it starts a little rough. I hear a buzzing coming from under the dash and it stays on after a few minutes. I drive off and as I get the foot into the gas the buzzing disappears. If I take my foot off the gas, the buzzing returns.

When I got back home I pulled the lower dash panel and located the source of the buzzing. It was coming from a green relay mounted next to the turn signal and flasher relay. It has the number 14039662, the letter F, and the number 3311 on it. A quick google search showed a listing for that relay as a Choke Heater relay.

I removed the relay and put it back in, but the buzzing continues. I removed it and the car still starts, but not as easy once the engine is cooled down. For now I have it out, because the sound is driving me nuts...but I want to fix this car right, so hence the following questions:

1. Is this relay even involved anymore with the new engine/carb/electric choke that's now in place?

2. The buzzing, does it indicate a problem with the relay itself or some other problem elsewhere in the system?

3. Where can I find a replacement for it if it is in fact a problem with the relay?

4. If it is involved with the current setup, what is it's function exactly? Is it possible to bypass it?

Sorry if these sound like dumb questions, but this is the first car I've had in 20 years with a carb and electric choke.

 

Have your alternator tested.

 

I wondered if that was the problem. I have a new battery, but the alternator is probably the original factory one...I'll get it tested tomorrow. Here's keeping the fingers crossed that is all it is...cheap and easy solutions are always best.

 

Whats your voltage looking like when the engine is running at idle and at like 2000rpm? Use a voltmeter not the dash gauge.

 

Don't have a voltmeter at the moment...right now the car is parked at the house. I'll be taking it in to the city garage next weekend to do some work on the a/c, I'll get it hooked up then and sort it out. I'm hoping it's simply the alternator is bad, or the PO installed the wrong amperage one...that wouldn't surprise me much.

 

Thanks for the help, it was the alternator. It wasn't working at all and the car was running solely on the battery. All fine and dandy now!