When I was driving my '79 Catalina with a 301 V8 and 3-speed auto back from the mechanic, I noticed the idle wanted to race again. Nothing was different about the carb settings from when I dropped it off. When I manipulate the throttle, a plunger from a solenoid pushes the throttle open and it races. I unplug the solenoid, pull the throttle lever and it won't engage, the engine goes down to its sane idle speed again. I googled what this solenoid is, and it's called an Idle Stop Solenoid. A former coworker said those are notorious on old GM carbs for going bad and racing the throttle like this, it was his top suspicion when I was figuring out the idle problem and learning my way around a carb two years ago.
I just left it unplugged. Will that cause any problems? My understanding is the solenoid prevents dieseling and run-on after you turn the car off, but that's pretty much it.
wow that's an expensive solenoid!
Yeah, they're really proud of that part.
For that price, it better not fail again, that's borderline highway robbery, lol.
What do you mean borderline?
Close to? That's almost as much as a purge valve for my Mustang. Then again, $56 for something that lasted 44 years is a lot better than lasting 4 years.
That was a sarcastic remark.
Ah. Sarcasm doesn't translate well in text.
is doc ever serious?
Rarely.