I have figured out my problem with my 77 Wagon. It appears that the choke is not working. I am not sure, but it looks like a mechanical choke. I dont see any vacuum lines going to it? It has been working well for the last two months. But now it is not working. Makes it hard to start in this NY weather!! I did a search last night and it seamed that most of the choke threads were pertaining to electricl chokes, or other style chokes. I could not find anything simular to mine. Can any one help me out here so I can fix the problem? Any help is appreciated! I need to fix this so it is easier to start the car. Hate going outside in the cold for 10-15 minutes as I try to start the car and finially get it running and then restarting it until she is warm enough where I can slowly step up the rpm until she runs smoothly on high idle for a few minutes. What a PITB!! Thanks.
77 78 79 and 80 I know for sure are electric chokes operated by a thermal spring that `unwinds` and opens the choke,and allows the little plastic cam on the carb to drop from gravity once the throttle is opened enough to let it fall.Thats why it says to depress the gas pedal fully before starting it,to let it either drop and go to the low idle,or to be pulled back up and give the high idle it should have when the choke isnt open.
I would say take off the air cleaner housing and see if the choke is open or closed before you start it.If its open,open the throttle completely and see if it closes then. Its adjusted by loosening one or two of the screws in the plastic cover of the spring,and turning one direction or the other to keep it open longer or less. It could even be the rod that goes to the choke plates is out on one end,and the choke moves free and independent of the actual spring.If its loose on the tab of the choke plates you can probably get it back in pretty easy. I had varying results trying to get mine to stay in without the plastic piece the rod fits into.
If its loose on the other end,you need to remove that plastic cover completely and get it back into the little circular end of the metal spring.Youll see right away what Im talking about.
Older pintos had a water hewated choke and a metal choke housing.
Oh and check to see if the wire is connected to the quick connect on the choke cover :)
Thank you very much for the reply. I know the rod is in the hole of the spring as I had to put that in so I could put the cover back on. Found it dangling. I was very fortunate enough to find the c clip too. If this is the "clamp" you are refering to, then there is no wire to it. It still like to rev and die down or out when its cold. So With your info, I will have to take a better look at it tomorrow. I will be changing the thermostat and gasket and the radiator cap and trying to fix the exhaust yet again! LOL. Thanks!
Where the rod connects to the choke plates,or the choke plate tang,theres a little plastic piece like a short sleeve with a collar on it, that goes into the choke plate tang,and the choke rod goes into that plastic piece.It kind of clicks in to it where its slotted for the rod. Just be sure the choke rod is connected at both ends. The wire is the electrical connection to carry current to the spring,and returns through ground.This current heats the spring and makes it expand and unwind to open the choke plates via the choke rod.I guess the choke would eventually get warm from the engine block but its supposed to be operated by the electrical connection supplying current to it and heating it. Maybe get a haynes or chiltons,I have one of each but my chiltons is abused,and Haynes is better sometimes for the pictures.
You know, I do have a wire to it, wich is actually attached to the outer housing! Anyways, thanks for the info. I am a fair to midland mechanic when I know what I am doing. But carbs I know nothing about. Some other things too. I have the chiltons, and a different one someone on here suggested. But when I look at the drawing, pictures just do not do it for me on describing what something is and how it operates. Its great to know how to take it appart and put it together. But if I dont understand it, I am lost. Once I do learn it, I dont forget it and it becomes second nature! LOL. Thank you very much for exsplaning it and how it works!
Youre welcome,I had my 78 wagon 25 years now so you know I had to learn something by now lol. I like chiltons for explaining things and haynes for the pictures especially if I need to find something I never saw where it was before or what it really looks like.
Well, to each thier own. But sometimes even they are wrong! LOL. I have a perfect case in hand. A few months ago I had a screaming sound coming from the engine compartment of the van. I took it to the garage to double check my theory of it being the alternator. They told me it was my water pump. So the next day it through the serpantine belt. I got a ride to town and bought a new water pump thermostat upper and lower radiator hoses and thermostat gasket and water pump gasket. Anyways, Chiltons told me I had to remove the radiator and the entire alternator mount with alternator. LOL. When I got it together and realized I munked up on a gasket, I had to tear it down. All I did was to unbolt the fan blades and undid one bolt on the alternator itself to swing it out of the way. Saved me almost three hours of work total! LOL. But for every vehicle I buy, I get one! I have two total for the pinot and the electrical and vaccuum book too. Though that is all greek to me! LOL.