Thread: Won't start if electric choke hooked up

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Ok, here is a strange one to me. My 289 won't start if the electric choke is hooked up on my Holley. Just chranks and cranks. When I check spark with a screwdriver it looks weak.

If I unplug the choke she starts right up and I can even plug the choke back in after it has started.

I was thinking battery but if she starts without the choke it should be fine, right? I am not sure how to tell if the choke is shorted or not. It functions when hooked up. Also was thinking about the starter relay since the choke is hooked up to it, but I am not sure how to test that either. Other then that she runs great. No problems after it starts.

Your thoughts?

I'll bet you have the choke hooked up to the wire that goes to the coil. There's not enough juice to run both coming through the little wire. Try running the choke wire to a switched source other than the coil supply.

I'll try to get a picture. It's hooked up to the right terminal looking at the Ford relay. Does that help?

Hey Denny---where should the electric choke wire be hooked up to on my small black with quadrajet? Right now I have it spliced onto the coil feed.---Brian Rupnow

Right, where should it be?

A guy told me yesterday that it should be hooked up directly to the alternator output, so that it only has power to it when the engine is running, as opposed to having power to it whenever the key is on, engine running or not. I don't think I buy that---the only time my coil has power to it is when the engine is running anyways. Who sets around with their key on and the engine not running???

Aftermarket, I am trying to find a location now. Thanks for your help.

I checked the continuity and your right, Starting coil is electrically the same as coil lead.