Sticking Choke
 

I have an 84 GSL. I am experiencing problems with my choke. It seems to stick open, (or is that closed) well, it stays "active." Ie: The car does not return to a normal idle when the engine gets hot.

It has continually been getting worse. When it started misbehaving it seemed to stick a little when re-adjusting the choke while the car was still cold but warming up.

Later the problem progressed to where it would not release when the ignition was turned off. (The choke is supposed to snap in) Finally it has gotten to the point where even when it is running and reaches operating temperature there are times when it doesn't disengage.

Sometimes pulling the choke out and then releasing will enable it to grab, and then it will suck back in. Also, it doesn't seem to be a problem with whatever it is that controls whether or not the choke is active. When the choke is stuck on, and the ignition is off, the mechanism should release the choke but does not. However, if one applies a some pressure to the linkage underneath the air cleaner then it will snap back into place.

Does anyone have an idea what could be causing this? My first thought is just that some linkages are probably just dry and seizing, but when moving the choke manually (with the ignition off so that the control module doesn't interfere) by playing with the linkages it doesn't seem to be very sticky at all. So I would tend to think that the problem is whetever controls the choke being on or off that is the problem. But as already mentioned, it is possible to get it to snap back by unsticking it. If it were the control module (is that what it's called?) I would expect that you'd have to fight it all the way in when trying to turn it off.

Anyone out there have any thoughts? I'd really appreciate any help you could give on the matter.

Well, it looks like the problem was simply that all the linkages were dry and siezing. After lubricating everything that moves as part of the choke system it seems to work great now. At first it didn't seem like it was just a matter of inadequate lubrication, but now it feels and acts exactly like it did a year ago.

Thought I'd let everyone know in case they experience a similar problem...