Carburetor Choke (electric)

[jokoza57]

I have a 1988 Festiva LX 1.3 ltr with the original carb.........The choke was not hooked up when I purchased it. No wonder I had a hard time with starting it last winter. I don't want to go through the same thing this year. Could anyone tell me where the red wire hooks to? I can find no connector. The red wire is only about 6" long as it comes down to the carb wire bundles.

Thanks, if you can help!

jokoza57

[25Horseplay]

It hooks to the back of the alternator.

[jokoza57]

Caburetor Choke (electric)

Thanks for the answer.......That must mean that it connects to the post
on the alternator...is that correct?

Thanks for the help!

jokoza57

[zoe60]

No. There is a seperate connection, looks like a spade lug.

[25Horseplay]

^^What he said, DO NOT hook it to the post. The 88-89 alt has a spade connector that the red wire goes on. If you don't have that connector someone may have put a different alt on the car.

[jokoza57]

Caburetor Choke (electric)

Thanks Guys!

Someone has put another alternator on it because it has no other connectors, but the POST and a CONNECTOR WITH THREE WIRES ON IT.
Both hook to the back side opposite the pully.

I talked to the guy who owned it and it has a alternator he bought at
an auto parts retailer locally a couple years ago.

What do you suggest now?

[WmWatt]

If he still has the original it can be rebuilt.
You can talk to the guy at the auto parts store
to see if he'll give you a deal on a replacement.
I got my replacement from a junk yard.

[WmWatt]

PS If the car has a block heater, plugging that in an hour before starting the engine in cold weather consumes about 2 cents worth of electricity and helps the car start. I measured it with a power consumption meter. I imagine it saves more than 2 cents in fuel but I have no way of calculating that.

PPS You should put your location in your profile.

[jokoza57]

Thanks guys!


jokoza57

[Banana Bonanza]

I'd have to look and measure to be sure, but suspect you can swap out choke cheaper than you can swap out alternators. I cant remember but if this is like most pollution carbs, the choke is riveted to make adjustment difficult. Drill out rivets. Then either convert to manual choke (they sell universal kits in the HELP section of auto parts stores), or water choke (I have water choke on my Weber and its way I would go), or electric choke meant to work on normal 12V. All depends on if current choke is standard diameter. Replace rivets in retaining ring with screws.

I havent done it yet, but intend to make adapter bracket to use an el cheapo 63A GM alternator from 70s era on my Festiva. Then use the Festiva alternator on my ancient Massey Feguson tractor to replace the non-functional generator it has. Festiva alternator is small and good fit without sticking way out the side of the engine (about same diameter as the current generator). Kills two birds with one stone, I get functional alternator on tractor and if alternator ever fails on Festiva, it will be set up to use an easy to find and super cheap alternator from any auto parts store in the country.