Stalling Fiesta - help!

[AnneCook]

Hi Ruth,

Thanks for that fantastic description. The detail will have helped a lot of people. I assume its called the choke because the more you choke the harder it is to breathe (the less air is gettting through)

The black smoke is a giveaway. On the odd occasion its no big deal, but if anyone does it regularly that soot will build up on the plugs and the car wil run poorly or not run at all. If you do look at a plugit should look silver (brand new) grey or light brown in a healthy engine. If they are black the engine is running too rich.

Scooters which relied on one plug would ofen refuse to start because of a black plug lol.

Just more one thing, did you ask your supermum whether she manged the starting handle on her moggy?

best wishes,

G
G

[Pamb]

Hello Gerald, well I tried pushing the choke in earlier when I left work and he was fine while sat at traffic lights but when I pulled away he tried to stall - luckily I had my hand on the choke and caught him in time - I think maybe it's a bit of a girly thing - we don't seem to be quite as in tune with our cars as you guys are, I do tend to overchoke him because I worry about stalling in the middle of the road, I get a bit panicky just thinking about stalling on a roundabout or busy junction . I always put the choke right in eventually just maybe not as soon as I should...... anyway I love my Minis and their funny ways

Pam

[AnneCook]

Hi Pamb,

Yes sometimes it is like that. Glad you got away with it. You recognised the danger and didnt panic.

it is a bit of a knack but do persist if you can, it will help you in the long run.

Best wihes,
G

[Sweet Ruth]

Hi Gerald,

I'm not sure "super mom" fits her but she is pretty savy and, of course, I think street smart. I did ask and she said to tell you she had cranked a car a couple times by hand only to prove to a boyfriend she could. Must have been long time ago as I'm 23. Mom has never been one to let anyone best her.

Pam,

good to hear you have masted the move of keeping you hand on the choke at junctions. That was something mom said to always do if in doubt about a possible stall. Jerking the choke out quickly will save the stall everytime.

Ruth

[AnneCook]

Hi Ruth,

heh your mum cant be that old lol

Not too keen on yanking/jerking out the choke, it could be end in tears.

how many posts have you done?
anywhere near being able to pm?

btw my youngest son is your age

[sarahjane113]

Hi Pam

Yes I'm like that usually. I darent put the choke in too soon as I know that will make him stall but if im not careful he will sit there chugging away. I always have it right out to start and leave it out for a while and usually once Im driving i put it in about half way but then have to be careful if i have to stop as he sometimes starts to splutter and unless i try to get the choke back out he will stall. Im driving my old mini a lot at the moment just because I do love driving him but its tricky sometimes getting the choke right.

How are you getting on Pam?

[Jenny G]

Hi everyone,
I have learned a lot from this forum, particularly about using the choke on my car more effectively. I too find that when my Astra is cold or warming up I can push the choke in to about half-way when moving, but I have to pull it out again to prevent dying or stalling at a junction. So I find that I have my hand on the choke all the time now in case I need to pull it out quickly to prevent a stall. Queing in the traffic after work is usually quite fraught as I have to push the choke in a little when stationary to prevent chugging and dying, but pull it out again to pull off. I try to avoid getting it wrong because it can be extremely hard to re-start after it has died or stalled!
Jen

[Sweet Ruth]

Hi Jen and Pam,
Glad to hear you have learned from the forum as it has been a great source of information for me. In fact, discussions with Gerald have led me to start researching and trying to learn more about vintage cars. Mom has shown me a lot but Gerald has the facts and knowledge about almost every old car. Mom's two "show and tell" lessons with me were invaluable. I listen to the engine rather than just keeping him overchoked to prevent stalling. The good news I've not stalled once in the past week or so.
Ruth

[Sweet Ruth]

Hi Jen and Pam,
Glad to hear you have learned from the forum as it has been a great source of information for me. In fact, discussions with Gerald have led me to start researching and trying to learn more about vintage cars. Mom has shown me a lot but Gerald has the facts and knowledge about almost every old car. Mom's two "show and tell" lessons with me were invaluable. I listen to the engine rather than just keeping him overchoked to prevent stalling. The good news I've not stalled once in the past week or so.
Ruth

[chokelover]

Hi Lisa,
How is your Fiesta doing for the moment ?
Keep in touch ! Nathalie

[Lisagrey]

Hi Nathalie, My Fiesta has been quite good but it definitely doesn't like these cold frosty mornings, it doesn't seem to matter what I do with the choke but when I get to the end of my road after starting cold it always stalls! It starts again first time usually but it's really annoying if there is a queue of cars behind me. I have tried having the choke all the way, half way and right in but it stalls anyway. Once I get it started again it then goes ok, strange!!

Lisa

[chokelover]

Hi girls !
Are the cars starting better at the moment ?
Nathalie

[Guest]

Nathalie,
This is my first post but have been following for several months.

Since Ruth shared her instructions from her mom I would expect that a lot of girls are doing better. I know I've improved my ability to use the choke. How did you come to select the name "chokelover" as a handle? Very intriging?

I've also seen on the other thread that you do a lot of things with your choke that adds excitment to your driving pleasure. I'm 21 and interested to hear more about the turn ons.

Margaret

[chokelover]

Hi Margaret !
Nice to hear your interested in more than starting/driving your car !
What kind of car do you have ?
I choose 'chokelover' just because I love older cars with a manual choke... These cars are harder to start up and that's what I like, it is turning me on a lot : the cranking sound, the spluttering of the engine, vibrations, stalling, shaking... I discovered this when I was a young girl already.
As I like this, I have a few of this old cars, because you don't find them often these days. So I am playing with the choke and gas, so the car is spluttering and shaking a lot and I'am excited !
Tell me about your car and your interests.
Nathalie

[Guest]

Hi Margaret !
Nice to hear your interested in more than starting/driving your car !
What kind of car do you have ?
I choose 'chokelover' just because I love older cars with a manual choke... These cars are harder to start up and that's what I like, it is turning me on a lot : the cranking sound, the spluttering of the engine, vibrations, stalling, shaking... I discovered this when I was a young girl already.
As I like this, I have a few of this old cars, because you don't find them often these days. So I am playing with the choke and gas, so the car is spluttering and shaking a lot and I'am excited !
Tell me about your car and your interests.
Nathalie

Nathalie,
I drive a '66 Volvo and I just love working the choke and gas. Like you I'm young (22) and get a real turn on...big time with making him splutter, vibrate, shake, quiver and jerk from both cold and hot. One of the biggest turn on is to have my girlfriend in the car with me and we are driving through the country and I will hear Linda get short of breath and she will reach over and pull my choke out on the hot engine and I will put the pedal to the floor and my Volvo will really quiver, vibrate and jerk but keep moving and Linda will really get bothered and the next thing I know she is sighing with relief if you know what I mean.

And I can tell you the turn on for me is just as great. The shaking of the gear stick is really exciting and I love holding onto it with one hand while keeping the pedal flat down with the choke out as far as I can pull it. Exciting.
Tell me more, Margaret