1988 cold Start Question
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
1988 cold Start Question
Hi all, I own a 1988, 350 L98, that is only driven in the Spring and Summer months. I am thinking of installing a Cold Start Valve Block-off kit and upgrading the Prom Code to $6E to eliminate the Cold Start all together. My question is, what issues might arise by doing so?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
Racer
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 494
Likes: 242
I can empathize with having lots of problems with the car, but I ironed them out over the past few months. What are you experiencing?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
First off, thank you for the help. Ok, just recently it would start run a few seconds then die. I would do that dance about six or seven times and then it would stay running. Now it stopped doing that. Then driving over to my mechanics shop it randomly would die while driving and then would come back to life. It did that 3 or 4 times. Now it stopped doing that. It's been scanned twice.So far I have installed these items new. Coil, ignition module, cap, rotor, fuel sender, fuel pump, fuel filter. Checked the O2 Sensor which checked out fine. Did a fuel pressure check twice. The second time was over night and had a considerable bleed down on that one which tells me a leaking injector. Possibly the ninth. I do have a new set of Delphi 22lb injectors on the way. All I wanted to know was would doing away with the ninth injector have any bad consequences.
Again, thanks for the help.
Again, thanks for the help.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 494
Likes: 242
I have the same car and setup as you. Did you pinch off the fuel return line? Also, check that throttle position sensor to make sure it's at .54 V . You can back probe the top and middle wire while key in position #2. These are OBD1 so is your mechanic scanning with the proper cable and software? It isn't a standard OBD2 setup. I have Win ALDL so I like to calibrate the TPS based on what the ECU is actually seeing rather than my multimeter which is sometimes a little off.
You've changed alot of parts, and with these cars it's necessary to DIY but it sounds like you need to perform some more diagnosis here first...
You've changed alot of parts, and with these cars it's necessary to DIY but it sounds like you need to perform some more diagnosis here first...
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
Thank you, that's some good info. I took it out yesterday for a drive and all seemed good. Then, I pulled up to a stop sign to make a left turn. When I went to start my turn, stepping on the throttle, it fell on it's face for an instant and then came back to life again. The thing is, this car can't be trusted, especially pulling out onto a busy highway. What you said about the TPS makes sense and I'll mention that to my mechanic, who is very good. This thing has has him scratching his head. These corvettes are definitely a different breed of cat. The scanner he is using on this is an OBD1. He has taken this thing out and drove it several times. Of course it won't die for him and seems to run real good.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 494
Likes: 242
I'll readily admit that I have been working on cars since I was 12, turning a wrench with my old man on his Mopars. I went on to BMWs and then as of a few months ago purchased a C4. There have been times when I have wondered if this car was cursed, but I have learned alot as a result and am pretty happy with the way it's running now. These cars went digital before the rest of the world did and they sit at a critical transition in automotive design when the manufacturers were moving away from carbs and into tuned port injection. You and your mechanic will learn alot before it's dialed in.
Also, many of the issues I encountered with the car were due to improperly executed repairs, which included a missing ground strap in the distributor cap, wrong spark plugs, the list goes on. I did not have much faith in mechanics going in and now it's practically nill, at least not around here!
Also, many of the issues I encountered with the car were due to improperly executed repairs, which included a missing ground strap in the distributor cap, wrong spark plugs, the list goes on. I did not have much faith in mechanics going in and now it's practically nill, at least not around here!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 494
Likes: 242
Re: the TPS, there should be two small bolts holding it in place. They should be snug and the voltage to be .54. Sometimes they can become loose or the TPS knocked out of position during work being performed near or on it. I lost those two small, crescent shaped metal shims which help hold it in place but its done ok so far without them..
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
I'll readily admit that I have been working on cars since I was 12, turning a wrench with my old man on his Mopars. I went on to BMWs and then as of a few months ago purchased a C4. There have been times when I have wondered if this car was cursed, but I have learned alot as a result and am pretty happy with the way it's running now. These cars went digital before the rest of the world did and they sit at a critical transition in automotive design when the manufacturers were moving away from carbs and into tuned port injection. You and your mechanic will learn alot before it's dialed in.
Also, many of the issues I encountered with the car were due to improperly executed repairs, which included a missing ground strap in the distributor cap, wrong spark plugs, the list goes on. I did not have much faith in mechanics going in and now it's practically nill, at least not around here!
Also, many of the issues I encountered with the car were due to improperly executed repairs, which included a missing ground strap in the distributor cap, wrong spark plugs, the list goes on. I did not have much faith in mechanics going in and now it's practically nill, at least not around here!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 494
Likes: 242
What a coincidence, I used to drag race a Mopar. It ran mid 11s and was a blast. It was a 1978 Plymouth Volare. I put a 440 ci and a Torque flight in it. Did all the work myself except the machine work on the 440. I did the engine assembly and even pocket ported the heads. I wish this vette was as fun to work on as that was.
