Ghost in the machine

[jvandyke]

So I've been tinkering with my electric choke. Several different times I've been sitting in the driver's seat while it idles slowly (600 or so) with the door open and I've raised myself up to go back under the hood and the engine instantly dies. I've repeated this at least 20 times, it's almost comic which is why it's in Opel Stories section (I'm not really looking for advice or a fix). I think a '70 GT would have a door sensor/buzzer (mine does but they don't work) but not a seat belt sensor, I can't think of a reason why this would happen. It's just like my riding lawn mower with a "butt in seat sensor"
Maybe something shorts a bit when I move and it's just enough to kill the ignition at such a low idle.
It was pretty funny. I tried gett'n up real slow: kill. Tried gettin' out without grabb'n the door frame or anything: kill. Tried sneak'n out real fast: kill. I swear it was playing with me. Then it quit and I could come and go at will.
Freaky little car.

[namba209]

Maybe it's telling you to quit screwing around. Get in and drive me.

[BobCGT]

Maybe Opel G(hos)Ties and beasties!

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by BobCGT Maybe Opel G(hos)Ties and beasties!

Tis the season.

[opelbits]

What do you hold onto to get up and out?

[jvandyke]

normally I brace my left hand on the door sill and grab the top of the door frame, swing my legs out and stand up.
Sometimes I could just lift my butt off the seat and it'd quit. Quite possible the PO has a wire running under the carpet and my weight made a good ground or somehow prevented a short that kicked in when I lifted up. I don't know, it's funny though. If it becomes a problem, it won't be so funny.

[namba209]

According to my DESTEC schematic, there is a pressure switch under the RH seat. I'm wondering if the PO put it in the driver's seat, for some odd ball reason. BTW All seat belt wires, the emergency brake lite wire and key buzzer wires are Brown/White.

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by namba209 According to my DESTEC schematic, there is a pressure switch under the RH seat. I'm wondering if the PO put it in the driver's seat, for some odd ball reason. BTW All seat belt wires, the emergency brake lite wire and key buzzer wires are Brown/White.

RU serious? Why is there a pressure switch there? Thinking ahead toward possible air bag retro fit? I don't think the Opel enigneers were THAT forward thinking in '70. Seatbelt sensor? '70 didn't have them I thought. Why passenger seat and not driver's? It's still spooky to me.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by jvandyke RU serious? Why is there a pressure switch there? Thinking ahead toward possible air bag retro fit? I don't think the Opel enigneers were THAT forward thinking in '70. Seatbelt sensor? '70 didn't have them I thought. Why passenger seat and not driver's? It's still spooky to me.

Seat belt buzzer. If there's a passenger in the car, and they don't buckle up, the buzzer sounds. However, if there is no passenger seated, the lack of seat pressure shuts the buzzer off.

[sawdust]

just curious... Where is the wiring for the seat belts. I removed mine and did not come across any wires attached to the seat belts.

[baronbors]

Carb float- getting out rocks the car? or the weight from getting out changes the angle ever so slightly?? NAH - I likethe ghost theory.

[namba209]

Originally Posted by sawdust just curious... Where is the wiring for the seat belts. I removed mine and did not come across any wires attached to the seat belts.

The wires for the seat belts go to a small pigtail on the retractors which go inside the belt retractors. If you have the wires, they go from the left to right under the shelf behind the seats and up inside the sheetmetal under the rear side windows and out through a small hole beside the belt retractors. HTH.

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by baronbors Carb float- getting out rocks the car? or the weight from getting out changes the angle ever so slightly?? NAH - I likethe ghost theory.

I thought that too so got out real easy but that ain't it. I'm pretty sure it's a bit of errant 'trons just enough to tickle the ignition. There's no stutter, no stumble, just OFF NOW.
No biggee, doesn't do it when idling normally (around 1,000+ rpm at the moment). I don't intend to let it idle that low (600) anyway. Just an interesting fluke.

BTW, beautiful day here in Michigan, so with my 1 1/2 hours between jobs, I just drove drove drove. What a great little car, the 38 is stellar and she goes like hell. Other than the weird choke thing, it's super.

[opel kid]

darn i wish i was that special to have a ghost in my car!
all i have are the possessed dust bunnies