Bad Afterthought?

[CaliDude76]

Originally Posted by Alias137

So here it is as I remember it. In the cali. trucks, the little square above the speedo has a check engine light. In the diesels, it is probably for the wait to start (or glowplug) light. One side is left blank though- I don't know why. The lower lights below the fuel and speedo gauges are (as I remember) choke, brake, and 4wd. One of these is also left blank, and I don't know why there either. There is no s.e.s. (service engine soon) light to the best of my kowledge. I don't think that was available with the obd1- I think that came out with the obd2. If you really want to know what those other places are that don't light- take it apart and hols the little plastic inserts up to a light, and you'll see what they do. I do know that the check engine light was part of the California trucks. As was the carbureator. It has to be the worst carb ever built. It is 1/2 mechanical and 1/2 controlled by the ecm. The ecm monitors the fuel and adjusts the mainjet. A real pain in the ass. It can't be adjusted without some minor modification to the carb, and to a screwdriver. Thanks to the c.a.r.b. (California air resources board) for that one. I think that the carb I'm talking about was manufactured for 1986 only, as 1987 went to the tbi setup. Anyway, that's about all I know about it. I am sure someone around here knows way way way more about it than I do, and that's why I like this board so much- it oozes knowledge. I hope this may have cleared up some of your questions.

Thanks Alias!.. no doubt about the knowledge on this site!! Im greatful for it!.. I had a sneaking suspicion that it was a California Emissions thing... and I know all to well about the finicky Carbs these trucks came out of the factory with... My smog guy takes a whole day just to fuss with it to get it to pass... but once it's all dialed in... runs like a champ. Took me FOREVER.. but i finally got the electronic choke an cold starts dialed in... sheesh. talk about adjustments.... Thanks again for the 411...