Ok so I have a '88 Vette. 4+3 btw.
Well in the past weeks I've changed the air filter,plugs, and wires.
My problem is start up. Sometimes she'll start right up while others it'll take a few tries. Theres no ses light on and the car runs good. Could this be a starter problem??

 

A few more details will help us give you some options.

The starters job is to spin the engine. Is this happening consistantly?

Are you having a problem with the engine not spinning each time you turn the key, or are you having a problem with the engine firing off and starting consistantly each time you turn the key?

Is there a pattern to what happens depending on if the engine is hot or cold?

 

Well the car turns over everytime. Its gotten to be pretty much random though now almost everytime I go to start it. It'll turn over but some of the time it just wont start. I'll try it like 2-3 times and it'll finally start though.

 

What did the old plugs look like? Have you checked the fuel pressure when trying to start? Have you ohmed the injectors?

If you have a hard time starting it after it has sat for hours (engine temp <95*), it could be the cold start valve.

 

The old plugs were fine, nothing out of the ordinary. No I havent checked anything. What kinda numbers and things should I be checking for? What exactly does the cold start valve do?-help the engine start when its colder? Does this rule out the starter?

 

The cold start "valve" is actually a fuel injector. GM put them in the L98 vettes from 1985-1988. When the engine is cold, the cold start valve sprays extra fuel into the engine to help it start. If the valve is not operating normally it can cause a hard start condition when the engine is cold.

Conversly, if the engine starts easily when cold, and is more difficult when hot, you can have a leaky injector (or several). As injectors get old, they do not seal as well, and will drip fuel into the cylinders (until the fuel pressure behind the injector fades). This causes there to be too much fuel in the cylinder when you try to start the car and thus the engine is in a flooded condition. You will have to let the motor spin for a few seconds to pump in fresh air to correct the flooded condition, at which point the engine will sputter to life. The cure for this is new or rebuilt injectors that do not leak.

There are many other factors as well, but gathering all the evidence of your situation will help determine a pattern of behavior that will dictate the path of the investigation.

 

i'm thinking the cold start valve only comes into effect if it's really cold - like "winter" cold. i don't have my service manual in front of me, but in the fuel injection trouble shooting section, under "cold start valve", it indicates the temperature threshold. normal summertime temps should have that circuit out of the system.

i have the same problem with my 85 - sometimes it will start up immediately, other times, it takes two or three tries. i'm suspecting leaking injectors. i have a clean set ready to install - just waiting for some spare time.

is there a pattern to the start-up problem? first thing in the morning, after the car sits overnight, does it start right up? if you have a warm engine, after the car has been sitting 5 or 10 minutes, does start right up, or does it take several tries? if the same warm engine sits for maybe an hour, does it start right up, or several tries. try to note your exhaust when it takes several tries. do you have what appears to be smoke? lighting up a bunch of raw gas might appear the same as leaking valve seals.

hope some of this helps...

 

How can I be certain that its the injectors? If sit is, what kind should I replace them with?

 

you'll probably need to run some tests on your fuel pressure - both static and dynamic. i dont have a service manual in front of me, so, i don't know the specifications for your car, or the procedure. you would be wise to get a gm factory service manual for an 88, and educate yourself. if you have an injector problem, and i don't know what the factory installed in an 88, but as long as they're not multi-tek's, have them cleaned and tested at www.cruzinperformance.com . if they are multi-teks, i'd replace them with 22# bosch injectors.

 

If the engine turns over every time you turn the key, the starter is ok. The cold start valve is only active at engine temps below 95*. So, it doesn't take winter conditions for the CSV switch to activate the valve. Usually if it take a few turns of the engine for it to start on the first crank of the day, I would look into checking the CSV and related wiring/switch.

You can check the injectors hot and cold with an ohm meter. Key off, remove each injector connector and touch both terminals with the ohm meter leads. You should have 16-17 ohms on each of them OR they should all ohm over 10 ohms and be very close to each other. Post your results. Your injectors can be serviced by a professional. I recommed Rich at cruizinperformance. It will cost ~$120 to service 8 injectors and the CSV, if his prices have not gone up in the last 6 months. Check it out and let us know.

You can check for leaky injectors by using a fuel pressure gauge ($40 at an autoparts store). Connect it to the Schrader valve on the right side fuel rail. Turn the key "on" and note the pressure. Turn the key off and watch the fuel pressure gauge. If the pressure starts to steadily drop off, you have a fuel leak. There are several methonds to check to see where the leak came from. We can discuss, if needed, how to check it out.