1. Home
  2. Automotive Technologies
  3. Ford Feedback Carburetor Questions

Ford Feedback Carburetor Questions

I have a 1985 Ford E-150 Van (V8 302) with a Motorcraft 2150A 2V feedback carburetor (part number E5TE-9510-YA) and EEC-IV electronic engine control (computer).

When starting cold, the choke pulldown function fails. The choke closes completely and fails to maintain the minimum choke pulldown setting (choke opening of 0.15 inches) once the engine is started. If I can keep the flooded engine running until it warms up, the choke plate eventually opens up and the engine runs OK. To me, this implies that the thermostatic components of the choke are working fine.

I first tried to adjust the choke pulldown with the vacuum diaphragm adjustment screw in the choke pulldown unit. I then removed the choke pulldown unit to check to see if the diaphragm had failed. It was fine. Only then did I discover that there was no vacuum on the line leading from the carburetor (base of carburetor) to the choke pulldown unit.

I removed the short hose and checked for vacuum (finger suction) at the long metal nipple protruding from the base of the carburetor. There was none. I then ran a longer hose to this nipple and tried to blow /suck air through the passageway with the engine off. It was completely blocked. I squirted carb cleaner down this nipple, let it work, and repeated my attempts to blow / suck air through the passageway. It remained closed. (There did not appear to be any vacuum leaks around the base of the carburetor.)

Rather than using the vacuum from this blocked carburetor port, I decided to derive the choke pulldown vacuum off another vacuum line originating at the intake manifold. I think this is OK because I think the choke pulldown vacuum originates in the manifold anyway and is routed up through the carburetor. (The original carburetor port was near the base of the carburetor assembly; I don't think the choke pulldown vacuum can be derived from the carburetor venturi because I think the choke pulldown vacuum must be present before the throttle is opened and the carburetor venturi vacuum is created.)

Question Set #1: Is the choke pulldown vacuum supposed to originate in the intake manifold, as opposed to carburetor venturi? If so, why would this vacuum line come out of the carburetor, rather than from the intake manifold vacuum tree (as I've now rerouted it)?

Question Set #2: I think it is rare that a carburetor vacuum line would be completely blocked by dirt. Since this is a special feedback carburetor, is there a carburetor solenoid failure or feedback sensor failure that would cause this normal choke pulldown vacuum circuit to switch into a closed position?

Question Set #3: Assuming that the previously discussed carburetor vacuum port is blocked because of a problem / failure, are there any other performance consequences due to this blockage? So far, the only obvious problems were related to the choke (black exhaust smoke and fuel flooding until engine warms up). The engine always seemed to run OK once the engine thermostat opened. Now with the choke pulldown vacuum reestablished from another source, the choke seems to work fine also.

Question Set #4: Since I reinstalled the choke pulldown unit, I have noticed the idle speed has increased, even after the engine has warmed up. However, I think I mistakenly readjusted the fast idle cam setting while reinstalling the choke pulldown unit. If I am not mistaken, the choke pulldown unit (and the associated vacuum) plays no part in idle speed once the engine warms up and the thermostatic choke takes over. Is this your understanding?

Knowledgeable answers to any of these questions would be very helpful. Thank you for your assistance.

By the way, these feedback carburetors were used in mid-1980 US Ford V8 vans (E series: E-150, E250, E-350), trucks (F series: F-150, F-250, F-350), and some Broncos.

Reply to
marv
Loading thread data ...

You probably don't have complete dirt blockage, as you surmise. It is much more likely that one or more incorrect gaskets were used in the assembly and installation of the carburetor at some point, and the passage is simply blocked off by the gasket. Usually the carb-to-manifold gasket, sometimes also the throttle body to carburetor body gasket. It is worth your while to find and fix the problem(s) correctly, for usually when this is the case, more than one passage is blocked off and other carburetor functions are impaired, whether this is plainly obvious or not.

Your questions:

1) Yes, choke pulloff vacuum is manifold vacuum, not ported or venturi.

2) No, there is no solenoid or sensor failure that would cause this blockage.

3) See above.

4) Question doesn't scan. The thermostatic choke does not "take over" when the engine warms up. All the adjustable settings really need to be made by the book; feedback carburetion systems as a class are finicky and temperamental.

DS

Reply to
Daniel J. Stern

I have seen that happen when someone put the carb base plate in upside down and/or when the wrong gasket for said base plate is used. This shuts off the manifold vacuum to the carb's ports. The base plate has notches in it and these notches line up with holes in the carb's base.

If it is blocked by dirt or carbon, then the carb is in bad need of a clean.

I would first suspect you messed with the wrong screw for the idle speed issue and second I would suspect you left a vacuum nipple open somewhere.

The open vacuum nipple idea could just mean you left that blocked one open and the carb cleaner finally worked through the carbon blockage?

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >
Reply to
Mike Romain

Thanks Daniel. You're probably right about a gasket misalignment. The choke has never worked very well. There was probably just a limited air passage and now it has been closed up. However, no other ports seem to be affected. I spoke with a friend and he suggested that perhaps I might stress the choke pulldown diaphram by pulling vacuum directly off the manifold tree rather than from the carburetor nipple. However, after also adjusting my fast idle cam, everything seems to be working fine for now.

I was happy to learn that the feedback solenoid and/or other parts of the complicated emission system would not cause this blockage. In

1985, Ford was transistioning to fuel injection and the vacuum circuitry is crazy for a carburerated engine.

Thanks again for your information.

Reply to
marv

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.