fast idle stuck on. choke light on. batt. light on. '81 vette

[steve's81vette]

hi, i have a stock '81, it sits in the garage more than anything. i recently put a new battery in it and started it, after it warmed up i tried to kick the fast idle off and it's stuck on. the choke light is on and the battery light is on. none of this was like that last time i started it. i took the air cleaner off and manuely pushed down on the weight arm/cam on the passenger side of the carb and the idle went to normal but as soon as you give it gas it jumps back to fast idle. i can feel spring tension pulling the weight cam back up when i put my finger on it. also where the electric plug is that goes to the round "thing"/choke on the carb is another plug not plugged into anything, i looked at it and it doesn't look like it was ever pluggeg into anything. please help as i'm sure it's a simple fix since this happened just sitting in the garage. thanks

 

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

-possibly the Choke-relay...

Steve, --we're presuming the A"hot-wire" is still connected to your choke; --so on my '80-C3 there is a Choke-relay located within the console-tunnel immediately proximal your right-knee as seated behind the str'wheel; --if malfunctioning this inexpensive Chevy/Parts-counter part can produce symptoms as you describe, but so can a loose female-spaded -wire thereto; --hope that might help your tracing the problem. Naturally, if your Choke is not getting a "hot"-wire, then the bimetalic-coil therein will not be heated-up to open the Choke-flap adaquately to move the coupled-linkage Cam impinged upon by the Fast-idle Screw. Please let us know as to your ensuing fix... ~Bob vH :crazy

 

[steve's81vette]

Steve, --we're presuming the A"hot-wire" is still connected to your choke; --so on my '80-C3 there is a Choke-relay located within the console-tunnel immediately proximal your right-knee as seated behind the str'wheel; --if malfunctioning this inexpensive Chevy/Parts-counter part can produce symptoms as you describe, but so can a loose female-spaded -wire thereto; --hope that might help your tracing the problem. Naturally, if your Choke is not getting a "hot"-wire, then the bimetalic-coil therein will not be heated-up to open the Choke-flap adaquately to move the coupled-linkage Cam impinged upon by the Fast-idle Screw. Please let us know as to your ensuing fix... ~Bob vH :crazy

i don't think it's the "hot wire" because if you unhook it the choke light goes out. if i put 12volts to the choke coil should it make the choke go off if working o.k.?

 

[1980corvettegibson]

I have a 1980 Corvette and i had a sound system in it with 2 10" subs. someone stole them a couple years ago and the battery light, and choke light comes on sometimes when im driving, and makes a loud buzzing sound. It never did that before they were stolen, so them pulling wires and things had to cause my problem. Maybe someone will know how to solve this.

 

[Jim Martley]

I am NOT trying to be a smart a-s, but have you checked the fuse for the choke? I had an 80 that I was working on and the choke light was on and the choke wouldn't heat up. It turned out to be the fuse.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

The fuse idea is a good one. My battery light came on when my instrument fuse blew.