Cold Start Valve
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Cold Start Valve
So I went start my car today and it started idling really bad and I thought it was possibly the timing. Started to drive it home and then I started smelling gas. Turns out the Cold Start valve is leaking from the fitting in the fuel rail. I had the car towed home and called some parts places but no one has them. I was told I could only get it from a dealer or a junkyard. As far as I can tell its only the end with the fitting thats messed up. Can this be fixed? If not wheres the best place to find one?
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
You might want to take a digital pic and post it showing exactly where the cold start valve/fitting is messed up. The Cold Start Valve (CSV) is a special fuel injector used only on 85-88 C4s. Neither GM nor the aftermarket manufacturers make them anymore. You won't find a new one anywhere on-line or at a dealer. If the problem is the injector, you could send it to Chris at CruzinPerformance to evaluate. He can usually rebuild one for a reasonable price. You could also look for a used one from the junkyard, but if it has been sitting for a long time, it probably will need rebuilding as well.
If the problem is the fitting for the fuel line into the injector, you may be able to find one in the GM dealer parts network under the CSV fittings group number, but more than likely, a used one from one of the CF recycling junkyard vendors will suffice for much less cost.
If the problem is the fitting for the fuel line into the injector, you may be able to find one in the GM dealer parts network under the CSV fittings group number, but more than likely, a used one from one of the CF recycling junkyard vendors will suffice for much less cost.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
!$%* no I didnt replace the one in the fitting. Which would probably explain why its leaking. Thanks.
Oh on a side note, is it possible to delete the Cold Start Valve? I ask because 89-91 L98's dont use them, just wondering.
Oh on a side note, is it possible to delete the Cold Start Valve? I ask because 89-91 L98's dont use them, just wondering.
Last edited by Demonic85; May 12, 2007 at 02:24 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,944
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From: WI
On my '88 I hammered a butten in the CSV to seal it off and run the '89 code. Simple and works very well. You need to either order or make the butten to seal the hole for the CSV and then a screw in fitting with o-ring for the back of the fuel rail. Both can be ordered from http://www.hotrodlane.cc/ The PROM would need a Moates.net adapter and then have someone write the '89 code in.
You could not run the '89 code OK to, it just might crank longer to start.
Or fix up the leak to.
You could not run the '89 code OK to, it just might crank longer to start.
Or fix up the leak to.
Last edited by Aardwolf; May 12, 2007 at 11:27 AM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
I just took the CSV off and the O ring is still on the fuel rail end and it looks to be in good shape. So now i'm wondering why it would be leaking so badly??? Is there another way I could seel it up?
Aardwolf, that sounds like an awful lot of trouble to go through just to eliminate that.
Aardwolf, that sounds like an awful lot of trouble to go through just to eliminate that.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
On the fuel rail end, the pipe slides into the rail and there is a large metal ring that stops it from going in farther. The o ring sits in front of that. Behind it is the screw fitting. When I start the car, fuel leaks through the screw fitting which you can see in the pic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
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From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Are you talking about the rear of the fuel rail, where the pipe end goes into the rail, and the 104 oring seal? if the oring is pinched and the pipe is not totally seated it will leak., also, check to see if the pipe has a crack or fracture...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
I pulled it out this afternoon and there were no cracks or damage to the lines or rail itself which was my initial concerns as well. I bought some new O-rings and if that doesnt work then i'm just going to cap it and say the hell with it.
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
On my '88 I hammered a butten in the CSV to seal it off and run the '89 code. Simple and works very well. You need to either order or make the butten to seal the hole for the CSV and then a screw in fitting with o-ring for the back of the fuel rail. Both can be ordered from http://www.hotrodlane.cc/ The PROM would need a Moates.net adapter and then have someone write the '89 code in.
You could not run the '89 code OK to, it just might crank longer to start.
Or fix up the leak to.
You could not run the '89 code OK to, it just might crank longer to start.
Or fix up the leak to.
He could just eliminate the CSV and plug off the opening. It will take a bit more time to fire up when cold, but nothing significant.
At this point though, it sounds like the fuel rail side o-ring or the screw cap over it are not seating properly. Should be easier to fix than plugging off the whole CSV system. It may be that the screw cap threads are munged up. Might have to remove the cap and clean them up with a tap.
