any hits on how to troubleshoot subject, when i hold her wide open and look down her throat the secondary is not opening. when i shove a screwdriver down the throat, this baby will come alive. Ive gotta a lotta help from this site.

double thanks to all

What vehicle, what engine, what carb?

Some carbs the secondary is vacuum operated - the Aisin on my Swift works like this ...

The accelerator linkage that opens/closes the primary prevents the secondary from opening until the primary is fully opened, and will close the seconday when the primary closes - but the secondary will never open unless there is sufficient vacuum.

Check the linkage on the secondary throttle plate - make sure it's not binding (I've had this happen), and make sure that whatever portion of the primary linkage that blocks the secondary from opening to soon is functional.

sorry, 87 sammi, 1.3 stock, diahitsu vacuum secondary,

It won't open with the vehicle not moving, it needs load.

so much for doing a visual on this subject.

got a vac gage today, still hoping for end to carb saga

The secondary vacuum pot (sic) has two vacuum line connections. when I block either one and pull a vacuum on the other one, neither connection will hold a vacuum.  Should this hold a vacuum like the rest of the vacuum pots (like the one on the distributor)? 

Also the little blue box in front of the secondary vacuum pot makes a ticking noise when the key is on, Is this normal?

It sounds like there is a vacuum leak somewhere, not sure.  Thanks for the help