You guys were so helpful with my last question on the frt diff, I'd thought I'd put this one up for grabs. I purchased the 87 w150 4x4 318 auto I spoke of in the last post. I knew it had cold start issues (wouldn't cold start without starter fluid sprayed in carb). Since it's a balmy 13 degrees outside today I figured it was a great day to putz with it. Turns out the choke plate wasn't closing all the way the linkage on one side was binding a bit and the linkage on the opposite side need adjusted/bent a bit. Manifold heater spring seems to work well and I didn't see any vacuum leaks anywhere so I believe I fixed the problem (we'll see after it sits for a while), which leads me to two questions. I have the Holley 2 barrel on my truck and on the drivers side front of the carb is a solenoid that was taken off by someone and left sitting on the manifold. It is not shown in my Haynes manual Holley carb blowup. I reinstalled it but it keeps the idle artificially high when the truck has run for a while. What is it? I assume it is activated/deactivated by a coolant temp sender? question 2) How accurate is the coolant temp gauge on these trucks, and does the gauge usually stay in the center of the ranges when warm? I'm thinking the thermostat may be stuck open or partially open as the gauge never gets above the 1 or 2nd mark on the gauge. Further if the coolant is never really getting to full temperature would the electronic idle raising goodgee mentioned in question 1 not disengage? I know it's long winded but I appreciate your help. Thanks, Steve
84 Ram
01-20-2008, 02:07 PM
I may be wrong on this but I think that the solenoid that you are speaking of is used to bring idle up when a/c is being used although there may be other uses for it.
SVT4CAM
01-20-2008, 03:40 PM
It seems that the solenoid has bemped the idle by 3-400 rpm. Needless to say with the artic temps I'don't have the ac on. The ac thing might make sense I'll look in the ac section of the manual.
SVT4CAM
01-20-2008, 04:18 PM
Just went out and cold started it worked great! Another project off the list. So what you guys think about the temp gauge and thermostat?
84 Ram
01-20-2008, 07:11 PM
I would probably replace the thermostat its not that big of a job. I will also say that I have had three dodge trucks and two of them would not warm up regardless of the thermostat so I would have to place a piece of cardboard over the radiator to restrict air flow.
Speed Dragon
01-21-2008, 02:56 PM
The solenoid is an idle kicker, and yes it bumps the idle by 3-400 when the AC comes on, but on my '87 Diplomat it seems to work even when the AC isn't on. When I rev it, it stays in the higher idle position for about 2-3 secs before dropping back to normal idle. Kinda like an anti-stall device, can't see any other reason for it. It is adjustable, should have a flathead screw on the front side, you turn it to adjust base idle speed.
Depending on the T-stat and how well the rad works, 1/4-1/2 gauge is normal on the temp gauge.
Reed_46052
01-22-2008, 02:14 PM
The Idle sol. could be a lean burn enviromental device - sets the idle while the engine is running and cuts off to fully close the throttle stop in order to prevent run on after the engine is turned off. if this is so, then adjust the idle with this sol. (usually by turning the head of the sol. when it is fully warm. and see if it completely closes when the engine is turned off.
