CHOKE PLATE STUCK OPEN

ANYONE KNOW WHY MY CHOKE PLATE GETS STUCK OPEN, AND HOW I CAN FIX IT? I NOTICED A SMALL CIRCULAR PLASTIC PIECE THAT CONTROLLS THE CHOKE LINKAGE THAT ROTATES.ITS ABOUT THE DIAMETER OF A SMALL FOAM COFFEE CUP AND ABOUT AN INCH THICK. I ROTATED IT WITH MY FINGERS AND IT CLOSED, BUT I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO DO THAT EVERYTIME I START MY COLD ENGINE. ANY IDEAS?

It would help if you told us the year and engine 2bblmor 4 bbl, but basicly that small circular plastic thing is called the choke thermostat, some are electric older ones use hot air from manifold.If it has a wire, check to see if it has power when engine is running. If yes, go buy a new choke thermostat parts house will need to know make, year, model and engine size, also 2bbl or 4bbl carb might even need carb # off of little tag on one of the float bowl screws it has letters and numbers in different sizes on it(D4TE ABA)inside of the housing is a coil spring with a heating plate under it.When there is elctric to the plate it heats up at the same rate as the engine heats up making the spring unwind moving the choke linkage. Look at the linkage you will see it has a fork on the end of it to hold the end of the spring or the spring has a round hole on the end to hold the linkage, make shure you get the right one.When you put it back to gether make shure the linkage engages the spring corectly.Snug the screws up so you can still turn the housing but it wount turn by its self, with the engine cold you want to have the choke butterfly hold itself closed but only light finger pressure will open it up then it will spring back closed when you let go.Also don't forget to check your linkage to make shure it isn't hanging up when the choke is working, it engages a 'fast idle cam'(holds the engine at a higher idle when cold ) this is hard to see but it is behind the choke thermostat mounting bracket if this is binding or gumed up it could keep the choke from closing.Also while you are there make shure your "choke pull off" is working. This is a small vacume can that pulls the choke open a little so the engine can breath once it starts, the the choke will slowly open itself more as the engine warms up.

ok sorry forgot to mention its a 81 351w. 2bbl holley.

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ANYONE KNOW WHY MY CHOKE PLATE GETS STUCK OPEN, AND HOW I CAN FIX IT? I NOTICED A SMALL CIRCULAR PLASTIC PIECE THAT CONTROLLS THE CHOKE LINKAGE THAT ROTATES.ITS ABOUT THE DIAMETER OF A SMALL FOAM COFFEE CUP AND ABOUT AN INCH THICK. I ROTATED IT WITH MY FINGERS AND IT CLOSED, BUT I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO DO THAT EVERYTIME I START MY COLD ENGINE. ANY IDEAS?

You have a mechanical (older) or a electric (Newer) choke on the side of the carburator.

Now Mechanical (older) unit :
On the intake you should have a hole & two theaded holes along side of that on the same side as the choke plate on the carburator, This is where you would install the (Thermostat is all it is), As the temp raise it pushs up and opens the choke plate inside the carburator, as it cools down it pulls the choke plate down (you got choke) you will need to determine if the (Choke Plate is any good on the carburator - First), then purchase a new (Thermostat) for your intake, that will screw into the intake and connect to your choke plate on the side of the carburator, then you will still have it for when your motor is cold.
NOTE: Before this you had to pull a knob inside the car to put the choke on or push it in to turn it off.

Then Electric (newer) Units:
Ok this is where it gets funny - Just before computers came out in the cars or trucks, they was using the electrical chokes, these units also worked off of a sensor that screwed into the intake (Theaded Hole), which when the motor was cold it let the Electric though and the choke closed, yea hoooo.

But now the Electronical Chokes works from the computers (So you need to know which wires to connect to the carburator choke plate, need to get a chilton or haynes wiring book - Get the colors of the wires and find them in the wiring harness.
OK NOW this is where it gets (OH SH!!!!!!! on and on), Sometimes this works and sometimes you have to go back to just before they came out with computers (All Makes, Ford, Chevy, Dodge...etc.).

I have to say this - From push/pull to Electrical to Electronical they did not mess this up from the beginning to the end (now) it works. , Hopefully I will not be eating my words.

Now which one do you have :
Mechanical - Push/Pull - knob.
Mechanical - Automated/mechanical arm.
Electrical - Automated/sensor.
Electrical - Automated/computer controled.

What intake do you have :
Stock intake.
Edelbrock...etc.

Was the car computer controlled and taken back to carburator ?.

These three things will determine what you will do, Next.

the manifold is stock, the choke is electric. dont think it was computer controlled, but how would i tell?