what are the symptoms of a bad cold start valve? Do I have to take apart the whole fule injection system to get to the Cold start valve? How much labor is involved?

Need help

 

The cold start valve is just that, sort of a choke for fuel injected engines. With a bad one you would experience hard starts. Unlike the other injectors they can be removed fairly easily and can be reconditioned by Rich at Cruzin Performance.

http://www.cruzinperformance.com/

Rich did mine about a year ago for either 6 or 10 bucks..... can't remember.

 

First check for leaks. Fuel and vacuum. Then you can test the circuit out electrially. Just disconnect the connecter to the cold-start injector, and hook up a test light to it. Make sure the car is cold, then start the motor and observe the light. It should be steady on during the cranking. You could disable the dist so the motor won't start, then watch the light during a longer crank time. I think the cold start switch will energize for a max of 8 secs, depending on coolant temp.

It might be difficult to remove the actual cold start injector with the plenum and/or runner on. That little fuel line coming from the back to the injector is a little tricky. Otherwise not too bad.

Good luck!

 

Good advice. For me it was a little harder to get it back on than off. Be careful to get the flange and o-ring seated in the hole before you tighten it back up. Mine was off a bit and when I tightened it I bent the flange which GUESS WHAT another vacuum leak. Rich even took care of me on that one too.

 

Cold start injector is just one more thing that can go wrong. Why not eliminate it completely? GM did by upgrading the programming in their chips to use a cold start enrichment program, and they did away with the CSI altogether.

With a little knowledge about your PROM you could upgrade to the 89 equivalent for your vehicle (with vats disabled of course), and then unplug the cold start injector switch. If you want to clean up some of the extra plumbing and wiring... You can remove the cold start injector, lines and wires, and then plug the remaining holes in your runner and fuel rail. Much neater looking.