1976 Dodge Aspen from North America - Comments

I own a 78 4 dr. volare that has been upgraded to police suspension, front and rear sway bar, large 11.5 inch front rotors, 8 3/4 rear end and the lowly slant six has been upgraded to a mild 340. Not much can keep up with it now, looks like a granny mobile, but will blow the doors off most anything on the road today. Its fun to drive.

To the guy who wrote the comment on May 31st 06, well said buddy way to sum up this stupid debate!

I have a 76 dodge aspen and I'm having problems with the choke, car won't start, Anyone out there have any advise??? Would appreciate it.

"9th Mar 2008, 23:05.

I have a 76 dodge aspen and I'm having problems with the choke, car won't start, Anyone out there have any advise??? Would appreciate it."

Are you sure it's the choke? A lot of time, what people think are carburetor problems are really something else. Does the car crank over? Does it fire, or cough, or backfire, or anything? Does it run, but then dies after a few seconds?

If your choke is working properly, when you set the automatic choke by pressing the pedal to the floor (before turning the key), the contracted heat coil should snap the choke shut over the carburetor throat. However, there should still be a slight gap between the choke and the "air horn" or wall of the throat. When you start the car, the vacuum pull-off should open the choke slightly so the engine doesn't flood out. As the engine warms up, the heat coil gradually pulls the choke fully open so the choke flap is straight up and down. If the engine starts to run and then you see black smoke, or it goes "chug chug chug" and dies from being flooded and you smell gas everywhere, then you have to check the vacuum pull-off for a cracked line or diaphragm and also check the choke linkage to make sure that the choke is not completely closed and letting no air in.

Other potential problems that might be mistaken for the choke: the float is saturated and sinks in the float bowl, allowing flooding; the fuel pump is shot and the engine is not getting gas; the engine doesn't have spark.

If the car won't fire at all, spray some starting fluid in the carburetor (with the choke propped open) and see if the engine fires. Whether it does or doesn't will guide where to go next.