Manual choke

Does anyone have a car with a manual choke. Ive recently passed my test and bought my 1st car. Finding the manual choke very hard to get used to in the mornings and when the car is cold. Just looking for anyone else who's in the same situation. :frown:

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Reply 1

browzer-911

used to have one in an old 1969 mini. it was abit of a pain but did not really cause any massive problems for me. Actually thinking about it i kinda liked it lol.

Reply 2

Kingspharm

I used to - just pull it out before you start and then push it in once it's warmed up? :confused:

Reply 3

warranty-ideal

I used to have one on my motorbikes. Simpe enough, if the engine isn't idling fast enough pull it out, when the revs are crazy in neutral put it back in.

Reply 4

solon

I love my Rover Metro with it's 4 gears (+ reverse) and manual choke.

Just pull it out, drive a bit and push it in. Usually I rev the engine up to wake up the neighbours.

It's great driving an old car because it's more unique, and it doesn't matter so much if you trash it so you can afford to be more wreckless. That's how I do it anyway.

Reply 5

Handy

solon

It's great driving an old car because it's more unique, and it doesn't matter so much if you trash it so you can afford to be more wreckless. That's how I do it anyway.

It does matter if you die though (aren't I considerate :p:

) and I old cars are less safe ...

Reply 6

Lofty

And when someone in an old car crashes into a nice new car :rolleyes:

. Then they won't have any car when the insurance premium rockets :biggrin:

Reply 7

gbduo

If you crash in an old car, settle privately and don't tell your insurance companies. You will save money in the long run!

Choke: This time of year, you probably don't need it tbh, try starting the engine without it, if your car is left outside it is very doubtful that you will need it and if it does, only half choke should be fine. Obviously if it still doesn't start then use full but go pretty much to half choke as soon as it starts! Also, on old cars with carbs, if you pump the throttle (full throttle and release) a couple of time before you start the engine, this will inject fuel down the carb and make it easier to start. Oh and if you stop the engine and come back to it and its still hot, sometimes it won't start and it will just turn over for a long time, simply put your foot on the floor and then try, it will fire into life! My Nova used to do this all the time, they are infamous for not starting when hot!

In the winter...! Keep it in the garage if possible and if not, put a blanket over the engine and close the bonnet before you go to bed to keep the chill of it and then remove it when you want to start the engine (put a postit note on your steering wheel or windscreen...!). Again, pump the throttle twice (no choke), pump the throttle once with choke and then try and start the engine with full choke. Let the engine warm up for about 2 mins, starting at 2000 revs and slowly letting the choke in as you hear the engine start to change note and it will become less 'chuggy', after 2 mins let it idle for a further minute and then drive of, putting the choke in as necessary. This means that by the time you pull of your drive, the choke should be at least half way in and one less thing to worry about!

When i used to drive my Nova (before i had a crash in it) i used to get the car out of the garage, then go inside after sitting in it for 2 mins at 2000revs, have a drink of squash, get my bags together, open the gates, put bags in boot and get my brother to actually do something! This took about 5 mins, so the engine was running for a good 7 mins, it used to use quite a bit of fuel, but it was so much easier as it wouldn't stall when turning out of a junction or at the most unopputune moment! So i would suggest that to you.

Have fun, old cars need alot of respect, time and TLC but if you do this, they will respect you and reward you with reliability...most of the time!

Check your fluid levels and the gap on your spark plugs regularly, every 1000 miles at least, even more in the winter! If you don't know what this means...ask your dad! :biggrin:

Hope this helps!

Graham

Reply 8

Kingspharm

gbduo

If you crash in an old car, settle privately and don't tell your insurance companies. You will save money in the long run!

...unless you crash into a Ferrari... :biggrin:

If you want a safe old car, buy a Volvo.

Reply 9

Kingspharm

Please don't....reminds me of the Fiat I saw parked in the middle of the road this morning because it had broken down.

Reply 10

solon

My Metro failed its MOT because of high exhaust emissions - I was twice over the legal limit. Damn environmentalist hippies.

Anyway, I took the carb apart and found that the spring on the needle was missing, I don't know if the garage did this or someone before, but it was inside the carb in a place it wouldn't have been possible for it to "fall" into. So yeah, put that back on and the car is running much better. Adjusted the carb so hopefully the garage can just pass it this time.

I recommend an older car, they're more fun. Way more fun, especially if you live on quieter roads (I live in Cornwall and mainly drive the A39 - it's not like I'm going to kill myself on that road). I drive because I enjoy driving. If I didn't I wouldn't have taken my test.

Reply 11

robert1987

Also, on old cars with carbs, if you pump the throttle (full throttle and release) a couple of time before you start the engine, this will inject fuel down the carb and make it easier to start.

Graham

Just not too much or the engine will flood and then won't start at all (although holding the the throttle on the floor whilst turning the engine over on the starter will dry out the plugs if you do flood the engine)

I used to have an Escort with a manual choke. I found that I could pull away in it as soon as I started if I had the choke 1/2 to fully out, depending on the weather. Then I could immediately push it back in as soon as I was moving along. When I stopped at junctions I generally needed to pull the choke back out whilst pulling away for the first couple of miles of the trip.

Oh and if you leave the choke out too long the engine floods and becomes very sluggish-found that out whilst practicing in it.

I miss that car :frown:

Reply 12

gbduo

My Nova had auto choke so you just pressed the accelerator to the floor and release and start it. My friend has a fully restored, concourse condition Spitfire Mk IV and that has a manual choke so i am going on what i have to do when i want to drive that...i deserve to the amount of hours i put in to get that heap of junk running! Its beautiful now tho, BRG paint scheme, new panels, new chassis pretty much, race tuned engine with full SS exhaust, its just awesome!

Triumphs are the best!

Graham

Reply 13

purplerat

Hey

my last car was an Austin Metro. I used to always pull the choke out before starting the engine nd once id started it push it in half way. That seemed to work just fine :smile:

Reply 14

magnad

I have an auto choke. I have to depress the accelerator, but how much depends on the temperature.

Reply 15

claire1895

robert1987

Just not too much or the engine will flood and then won't start at all (although holding the the throttle on the floor whilst turning the engine over on the starter will dry out the plugs if you do flood the engine)

I used to have an Escort with a manual choke. I found that I could pull away in it as soon as I started if I had the choke 1/2 to fully out, depending on the weather. Then I could immediately push it back in as soon as I was moving along. When I stopped at junctions I generally needed to pull the choke back out whilst pulling away for the first couple of miles of the trip.

Oh and if you leave the choke out too long the engine floods and becomes very sluggish-found that out whilst practicing in it.

I miss that car :frown:

Reply 16

claire1895

By what you say, think i maybe flooded it this morning, whoops!!! :eek:

Reply 17

wacko_demon

whats a manual choke ??????

someone please explain!

Reply 18

pghstochaj

Limits air going into a carborator which is (simplified) the old system used to inject petrol into the engine, i.e. where the petrol first meets the air. Limiting the air into the carb richens the mixture, RPM usually increases with most chokes.

An SPI (single point injection) or MPI (multi....) system uses other means as it is ECU controlled.

Reply 19

gbduo

Not really an old system Pgh, just most cars nowadays don't use it as it drinks fuel.

Many performance engines still use Carbs with some electronic aids, high performance V8s often use carbs as they do a better job at mixing the fuel/air mixture than injection can for a reasonable budget!

Plus the you can't beat the induction noise of carbs, nor the simplicity offered, especially to a race team if they need to change engines...they don't need to worry about wiring harnesses and ECUs!

So in reality, carbs are just as good at their job as injection equipped vehicles, its just that you can make injected engines more efficient as you can change the fuel/air mixture on the fly, which is harder to do in carbs...you set up for what you need and leave them at that.

Graham