Engine refuses to idle until warm
 

Ok, here's a problem I've had for a while. I have a 1983 FB. Its stock, with one exception: the carberator came off an RX-3. The engine starts fine, but until it warms up it will die at idling speed (about 800 rpm) unless I give it a little gas. Pulling the choke helps some, but not all of the time.

I did some searching around here, but none of the threads seem to match up with my problem. With my limited car knowledge, I'm thinking it's probably the carb, possibly the fuel pump. Does anyone have any pointers or know of a thread that has already addressed this?

mine idles at 900, and with choke up about 2 i just keep choke up for like 5 mins
its a "rough" idle. its not the fuel pump.
but ya mine does the same thing if its cold.

Well that's one speculation down.

Update: Drove around a bit. Actually idles at 1000

For pretty much every stock first gen I've ever encountered, it won't idle until warmed up - that's what the choke is for. You start the car, pull the choke out (adjust for about 2,000rpm) and leave it there. When the car is warm enough the choke magnet will disengage and the choke will pull in, leaving you with your idle.

It's normal behavior for older carb'd cars. It's why we have a choke.

Jon

Very well then. I've never owned a carb'd car before. *braces for comments about bein' a youngin*

I guess a 13b swap would fix it...

It's not a problem. There's a choke for a reason. Getting a 13b isn't going to fix it.

Even with fuel injection?

That's an aweful lot of work just so you can jump in and go without properly warming the car up. Even when I had my FC with the fuel injected 13B I let it warm up before I went anywhere

Fuel injection will help, but the engine should still be properly warmed up.

I don't have the patience or gas money to wait for my car to fully warm up before driving it. I just drive gently until the oil temp gets to its normal range. I also taught myself how to drive while keeping one foot on the gas at all times, which really helps when you have a car that isn't running right, or one that has no choke (like my FB).

what about on an aftermarket carb, weber,dell,mikuni..etc. you dont need a choke on some of those? Why?

Some of them do have a choke. Others are just a bit harder to drive in the cold. My 45 DCOE has a choke, but I didn't bother hooking it up since it will have to be blocked off when I install the turbo anyway. I just keep one foot on the gas until it's warm enough to idle.

That's what I do. It's one less step instead of having to remember that you pulled the choke. Especially if you had to use a washer or a penny if the choke holder is malfunctioning or you had to remove the switch in the back of the waterpump, it's a lot easier to drive keeping one foot on the gas pedal until it will idle on its own. It only takes like a few minutes or whatever.