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83' v8-choke relay issue

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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 08:40 PM
  #1  
Catt's Avatar
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Car: 83 Z28
Engine: 305 5.0 V8
Transmission: 5 Speed Maunal
83' v8-choke relay issue

Ok guys, I've got the dreaded choke light issue that I've seen others post about. Mine is acting slightly different than the other posts I've seen. Here is what I am experiencing and what I've done so far.
Symptom: Choke light works correctly (lights up) when ignition is in the aux position and goes out when engine is started.Choke light flickers and sometimes stays on only after engine is warm. If it stays on then shortly thereafter the engine rpm climbs up to 2000-2500rpm. I pull the relay out and the light stays on and rpm stays in high idle. Pulled the choke relay cover off and checked voltages at the pins. At cold engine I get 0v on the choke relay's coil and 13.8v on the wire going to the choke heater located on the carb. After about 20-30min of either idle or run time I see the relay pulsing like it wants to pull in. I measure the voltage on the choke relay's coil and I have 14-14.5v and still have the 13.8v on the wire to the choke heater but it obviously is pulsing as the relay is pulsing. There are 3 wires on the relay. 2 Brown and 1 light Blue. I need to know where the voltage on the brown wires to the choke relay's coil come from? The relay is being told to pull in but I do not know why? If I can figure out where the relay's voltage is supplied from, then I should be able to figure out why it's getting this voltage.
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Old Aug 4, 2013 | 09:35 PM
  #2  
Catt's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4
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Car: 83 Z28
Engine: 305 5.0 V8
Transmission: 5 Speed Maunal
Re: 83' v8-choke relay issue

Originally Posted by Catt
Ok guys, I've got the dreaded choke light issue that I've seen others post about. Mine is acting slightly different than the other posts I've seen. Here is what I am experiencing and what I've done so far.
Symptom: Choke light works correctly (lights up) when ignition is in the aux position and goes out when engine is started.Choke light flickers and sometimes stays on only after engine is warm. If it stays on then shortly thereafter the engine rpm climbs up to 2000-2500rpm. I pull the relay out and the light stays on and rpm stays in high idle. Pulled the choke relay cover off and checked voltages at the pins. At cold engine I get 0v on the choke relay's coil and 13.8v on the wire going to the choke heater located on the carb. After about 20-30min of either idle or run time I see the relay pulsing like it wants to pull in. I measure the voltage on the choke relay's coil and I have 14-14.5v and still have the 13.8v on the wire to the choke heater but it obviously is pulsing as the relay is pulsing. There are 3 wires on the relay. 2 Brown and 1 light Blue. I need to know where the voltage on the brown wires to the choke relay's coil come from? The relay is being told to pull in but I do not know why? If I can figure out where the relay's voltage is supplied from, then I should be able to figure out why it's getting this voltage.
Found the schematic. It shows one side of the choke relay's coil is from the C/H fuse (20amp) and the other side of the coil is from the generator (that's what the Haynes manual calls it). Could this be from the bridge circuit in the alternator breaking down when it gets warm? It seems like I am getting pulsating dc when this is acting up. I've also noticed the dash lights have a very slight pulsation when engine is warm and lights are on. Not sure if these are all related? Voltage levels and charging all seem to be ok but the voltage does seem to pulse. Hard to read how much as I only have a digital meter not an analog one.
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Old Aug 5, 2013 | 08:22 PM
  #3  
Catt's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Car: 83 Z28
Engine: 305 5.0 V8
Transmission: 5 Speed Maunal
Re: 83' v8-choke relay issue

Originally Posted by Catt
Found the schematic. It shows one side of the choke relay's coil is from the C/H fuse (20amp) and the other side of the coil is from the generator (that's what the Haynes manual calls it). Could this be from the bridge circuit in the alternator breaking down when it gets warm? It seems like I am getting pulsating dc when this is acting up. I've also noticed the dash lights have a very slight pulsation when engine is warm and lights are on. Not sure if these are all related? Voltage levels and charging all seem to be ok but the voltage does seem to pulse. Hard to read how much as I only have a digital meter not an analog one.
Ok, so I went out today and purchased a new alternator. I was suspecting the electronics were having thermal breakdown and causing pulsating DC. Installed the new alternator and took her out for a test run for about an hour. No more issues thus far with the choke light pulsing. Choke seems to be performing correctly now.
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