Vee-hickle: '83 GL D/R Wagon, Hitachi carb, California Special.

 

On initial starup for the day (ambient temp usually around freezing), My automatic choke seems not to "take hold" until the car has warmed up a bit, usually after about a minute of my having to hold the throttle to prevent stalling. All subsequent starts are OK, the choke acts normally, going to fast idle until I kick it down or the choke kicks down automatically.

 

This is becoming kind of annoying, having to "baby-sit" after starting.

 

Cranking speed is OK.

 

What am I looking for to correct this?

welcome to the world of hitachi carbs....

mine is the same way...

NV, sure sounds like the choke pull off wants adjusted. It may be pulling the choke open too far on intial start up

Do you have a manual that has the specs for this item?

My vote goes to sloppy throttle shaft bores - common on the hitachi's, and cause them to suck air - lean out and die. Nothing to do but rebuild the carb (and bush the shaft) or get another one (Weber time).

 

GD

Thanks Skip, I'll look for that when it gets a little warmer in the garage. I have a FSM, the carb section is pretty extensive. I figure I'm in the right neighborhood if I look in the "automatic Choke" section?

 

GD, The carb is a recently purchased rebuilt unit. The probs you describe were what was wrong with my old carb..different symptoms than I'm having with the start issue now. Thanks.

Also check the diaphram in the air cleaner to see if it's closing the flap/ diverting warm air from the exhaust.

This is what I was told some years ago: before you start, tap gas once or twice, it closes the choke. I don't even know if it's completely true, but it works for me.

If I tap gas once, then start and don't mess with gas after the car started, it beautifully goes to high idle and then through its warming-up rootine. If I mess with gas, it goes to the regular idle and tries to die, so I have to keep gassing it up to keep it alive.

Does it make any sense to the pro's?

my choke system must not be working then because I tried that last night and it ran like crap and never high idled.

I know I took off my air filter to see what was going on with the metal flap that's supposed to close for cold idle when you tap gas. If I remember correctly on the old (and now dead) carb it was sticking and wouldn't close... I think I'm right, but I have a tendency to forget. I only partially understand how it all works, so my knowledge easily leaves me .

I took the lid off too, only my flap closes. Tight. Not quite sure how it's supposed to work, but sumpin' ain't right.