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Classic/Antique Car Repair/Gas pedal starting 1940 Buick

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Expert: - 9/15/2009


Question
Can you tell me if there's any electrical wiring to make the car start by pressing down the gas pedal, or is it a mechanical with no wiring involved?
Also on my electrical schematic it has a part called accelerator switch, can you tell me what that is?
Thanks for your help
Joe

Answer
There is supposed to be a switch on the side of the carburetor that is connected to the throttle shaft. The switch has two terminals, one going to the ignition switch and the other to the small terminal on the starter solenoid. When the engine is not running and the key is turned on and the gas pedal depressed the switch closes and the starter is supposed to engage. When the engine starts vacuum from below the throttle plates acts on the switch making it inactive until the engine is stopped, then it will work again. A lot of these cars were modified when the vacuum switch failed. It was removed and a push button switch wired under the dash. The vacuum switch under the carburetor is wired the same as the push button.
Brad

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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