Electric Choke and Wiring

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Jul 14, 2023
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My Car
Mustang Mach 1 Fastback 1973
Hello everyone, the cable for the choke (black and white) on the engine wiring harness of my 1973 351C V2, can I use this for the electric choke, or should I use a direct cable from the alternator to the electric choke and if so, what is the black and white choke cable actually for?

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Thank you!
Ben
 
I used the throttle solenoid power feed wire on my 72 2V. I removed the solenoid when I changed to a Holley. It supplies 12 volts with the key on. I think most people use that as their choke power supply.

Ron
 
The white black factory choke wire is connected to the white black wire to the alternator. No need to run another wire unless your wire harness(es) are damaged, modified or suspect. You could check continuity from the alternator back white wire to the choke black white wire, there should be continuity.
 
Ok, there is still no new wiring harness on my alternator, as the delivery has been delayed from week to week for over 4 weeks now. I'm already thinking about installing a 70 AMP alternator as this wiring harness is still available, and the other one has apparently been sold out for months.

I didn't realize that the cable practically runs around the engine block once and then ends up back at the choke. I will make sure that I do everything on the car like the factory, and then use the black and white cable for the choke. I have practically "killed" the cables for the solenoids, as I have also removed these. They no longer make any sense and also provide less power.

Thanks for the tips. You are the best!
Ben
 
70 amp alternators are correct for 73 Mach 1s that have factory rear defrost. I believe 55 or 61 amp without the rear defrost. Connections to the 70 amp alternator are different than for the lower amp alternators. 73 was the only year to use the 70 amp alt. This was do to the 73 rear defrost being higher wattage (higher amp draw) than 71/72s. 73s used a dedicated rear defrost 12 volt feed (yellow with integral fusible link) connected to the junction block forward of the starter solenoid if the car was equipped with factory amp meter according to the 73 Mustang wiring diagram. To the starter solenoid battery post without amp meter. 71/72s used a black yellow hash feed wire connected to a circuit breaker at the solenoid, that feed wire also used for to feed the convenience group, power windows or convertible top. 73s also used a black yellow dash feed wire for the convenience group, PW or convertible top only, not for the rear defrost feed.
 
70 amp alternators are correct for 73 Mach 1s that have factory rear defrost. I believe 55 or 61 amp without the rear defrost. Connections to the 70 amp alternator are different than for the lower amp alternators. 73 was the only year to use the 70 amp alt. This was do to the 73 rear defrost being higher wattage (higher amp draw) than 71/72s. 73s used a dedicated rear defrost 12 volt feed (yellow with integral fusible link) connected to the junction block forward of the starter solenoid if the car was equipped with factory amp meter according to the 73 Mustang wiring diagram. To the starter solenoid battery post without amp meter. 71/72s used a black yellow hash feed wire connected to a circuit breaker at the solenoid, that feed wire also used for to feed the convenience group, power windows or convertible top. 73s also used a black yellow dash feed wire for the convenience group, PW or convertible top only, not for the rear defrost feed.
Good to know, then I will also restore this factory state and not work with the 55 amp alternator. The yellow cable for the defroster is next to the black cable as you described. It is currently not connected and has been literally "shredded". I have to repair that first. I can't say what else the previous owner left wrong or incorrect. I have spent hours reading through documents and manuals but I am not a mechanic and do this as a hobby. Thanks for your great help, thanks Doug!
 
70 amp alternators are correct for 73 Mach 1s that have factory rear defrost. I believe 55 or 61 amp without the rear defrost. Connections to the 70 amp alternator are different than for the lower amp alternators. 73 was the only year to use the 70 amp alt. This was do to the 73 rear defrost being higher wattage (higher amp draw) than 71/72s. 73s used a dedicated rear defrost 12 volt feed (yellow with integral fusible link) connected to the junction block forward of the starter solenoid if the car was equipped with factory amp meter according to the 73 Mustang wiring diagram. To the starter solenoid battery post without amp meter. 71/72s used a black yellow hash feed wire connected to a circuit breaker at the solenoid, that feed wire also used for to feed the convenience group, power windows or convertible top. 73s also used a black yellow dash feed wire for the convenience group, PW or convertible top only, not for the rear defrost feed.
PS: is the integral fusible link is still available because at my yellow cable is nothing any more, as i said, shredded.
 
Thanks guys, as for the repair, I need more than a fuse for the terminal block, just to know what exactly I need to buy. I understand the defroster cable has a 19a fuse, what about the other cables?
 
The thick yellow wire with the fusible link 14a is #37 on the diagram and goes over the engine along with the black and yellow wire for the power windows etc, attached to the stabilizers for the dome struts. the other yellow wire 37 is part of the main harness and goes under the fan and then attaches to the terminal block. did i summarize this correctly so far, not that i'm mixing up the wires. bzzzzz--boom :)
 

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The thick yellow wire with the fusible link 14a is #37 on the diagram and goes over the engine along with the black and yellow wire for the power windows etc, attached to the stabilizers for the dome struts. the other yellow wire 37 is part of the main harness and goes under the fan and then attaches to the terminal block. did i summarize this correctly so far, not that i'm mixing up the wires. bzzzzz--boom :)

Man, I'm trying to figure out the same thing and the harness in my 'stang is a disaster lol.

What wiring diagram/page are you using there? I bought the color diagram from Forel, but it's nowhere near as clear as that!
 
The white wire with black stripe (Circuit #4) is used for the factory electric choke connects to the alternator stator terminal. The power coming from the stator circuit is a very unusual kind of power. It is both Alternating Current (AC), and 1/2 the voltage found at the alternator output that connects to the battery positive terminal. No other current in those cars back then have AC current anywhere outside the inside of the alternator. The 1/2 battery voltage is adequate for the owm choke heating, as the electric choke heater provides supplemental heat, whare the choke housing has a little bit of vacuum flow that pulles filter air from near the carburetor air horn, down to a stove heater at the passenger side exhaust manifold, and the war, heated air is then pulled into the choke area behind the choke cap, where it then warms up the bimetallic coil spring that makes the choke blade open or close. The electric choke heater is supplemental to help ensure the choke opens fairly quickly.

For aftermarket carburetors, were you to ever get one, with electric choke heating, they require full battery voltage to work properly, as they do not have a hot air flow through an exhaust manifold stove heating system. I have seen all kinds of aftermarket electric choke wiring to include using the stator Circuit #4 White with Black stripe wire, which causes the choke to open too slowly. I have seen other folks use the "I" Circuit #16 (Red Light Blue stripe) from the Starter Relay, but again, that has reduced voltage from the resistor wire fed by the ignition switch, as it is routed to the positive terminal of the primary circuit on the ignition coil. When the engine is cranked over it gets "dull battery voltage," which is NOT to say the coil and electric choke get 12 volts while the engine is cranking. Why is that? It is because when the engine is cranking over the battery coltage drops to typically between 9.6 and 10.5 volts due to the huge amperage demand from the starter. When the engine is running the "I" circuit is anywhere from about 6 - 8 volts, inadequate to open the chock as quickly as it needs to be opened.

So, two simple ways to get 12 volts of switched Direct Current (DC) power is to tap into Circuit #640, which powers the carburetor Throttle Position Solenoid (the wiring is present whether a TPS is in use or not), Or tap into Circuit #63 which is the red power wire that feeds the windshield wiper motor. Either approach does pull additional amperage from the feeding circuits, but not enough to cause any problem with overloading either circuit.

If you are concerned with splicing into Circuit #640 or #63 there is another way to accomplish getting 12 volts of switched power to the electric choke on an aftermarket carburetor. You can then run a dedicateed circuit from the relay's "load" side to power the electric choke. I suggest using an inline fuse for the wire between the battery's positive terminal and the relqy's high amperage current source terminal. You can use any number of circuits with a very low amperage load to trigger or activate the relay. The circuits that come to mind for me would be Circuit #4 (AC power at 6 volts is enough to trigger many relays), the Starter Relay "I" Circuit #16 (Red with Light Blue stipe). Circuit #640 that feeds the TPS (Red with yeloow hash), and the windshiwld wiper motor Circuit #63 (Red wire).

Personally I thinking using a relay to power an electric choke is a bit of overkill, but there is really nothing wrong with it other than introducing an additional layer of complexity when iit really is not needed. Speaking of overkill, the other year I decideded to correct the electric choke wirhing on out 73 Mach 1 which is running a 750 CFM Holley carb. The prior owner had wired the Circuit #16 wire from the starter relay's "I" terminal. It :worked, eventually, and resulted in me blowing a lot of black smoke during engine warmup as the lower voltage from the ignition system's ignition coil positive terminal. After a few years of dealing with that I finaally rewired the elecric choke to be powered from the windshield wiper #63 power circuit (Red wire). I did that because I do not drive the Mach 1 when th roads are not perfectly dry, so I know I will never overload Circuit #63. I was tempted to use a relay and let Circuit #4 trigger the relay, but decided I really did not need that level of complexity. Besides, I am already using Circuit #4 to trigger a headlight relay for full time headlights ro be on in an effort to make sure other drivers see the Mach 1 - my attempt to further help prevent an accident as I never want that car to get damaged.

So,why did I say what I did was overkill? Because I video recorded my cutting over to Circuit #63 to power the electric coke. You can see how I did the rewiring by hitting my YouTube channel. The video is at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDcskIPfLcE&t=2s


My YouTube channel is under "Gilbert Hale, and can be seen at the following link. I have all kinds of videos for vintage Mustang diagnosis and repair procedures I felt might be of value to others.

https://www.youtube.com/@gilberthale7777/featured

I hope all that helps you.
 
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I've researched this topic for hours and hours over the course of this week and last week, trying to find the most optimal way to do it, and Gilbert summed it all up perfectly. 100% agreed.
 
Wow! Great info on the electric chokes both factory and aftermarket.

To help with 73 wiring around the battery, junction block, and regulator, on cars with ammeters and the tach as well as where electrical options rear defrost, convenience group, power windows connect when equipped with ammeter, I simplified Fords Mustang wiring diagram in that regard.

The junction block is only used on cars with the factory ammeter. The alternator/ alternator regulator wiring harness for cars with ammeter and tach is also different than without ammeter and tach.

The Ford diagram shows all the various wiring possibilities (with and without ammeter, with and without tach, with and without options such as rear defrost, convenience group, power windows) all merged together making it challenging to figure out.

The first image in the pdf attachment is of the Ford Mustang wiring diagram unmodified.
The second image is the simplified modified version eliminating the wiring used without ammeter and without tach. I also eliminated the connections for rear defrost, convenience group and power windows when so equipped without ammeter and tach. This leaves only the wiring for cars with ammeter and tach and where the optional connections are for defrost, convenience group and power windows is so equipped.

Hope this is helpful.
 

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