'85 L98 Cold Start removal
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Blackwood NJ
'85 L98 Cold Start removal
Is there a legitimate method to remove the ridiculous "cold start injector" from my '85 L98? The car is running rich (exhaust STINKS) and the idle bottoms out and surges. I would think that removing the fuel line and plugging that off would be the first step, but how do I seal the hole when the injector itself is removed? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Yes, that is true, if you have a leak in the injectors. To know that you would need to connect a fuel pressure guage to the fuel rail and see if the pressure holds. If you don't see an abmormal drop in pressure, they ain't leaking. Have you done that?
Also, have you verified for closed loop operation? If you don't have a multi-meter, you can use the car's built in field test mode using a paper clip.
The same as pulling codes but you start the car this time when jumping the A&B terminals of the ALDL plug. Two flashes per second on the engine light means the car is in open loop. If the flashes drop to 1 time per second, the car is entering closed loop.
Vaccum leaks can introduce unmetered air entering the motor bypassing the MAF sensor, which throws off the mixture as the ECM tries to compestate.
Also, have you verified for closed loop operation? If you don't have a multi-meter, you can use the car's built in field test mode using a paper clip.
The same as pulling codes but you start the car this time when jumping the A&B terminals of the ALDL plug. Two flashes per second on the engine light means the car is in open loop. If the flashes drop to 1 time per second, the car is entering closed loop.
Vaccum leaks can introduce unmetered air entering the motor bypassing the MAF sensor, which throws off the mixture as the ECM tries to compestate.
Last edited by 86PACER; Mar 10, 2010 at 04:34 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Car going into closed loop?
To find vacuum leaks I use a can or carb cleaner with straw nozzle. When engine idling shoot come carb cleaner around gaskets, seals, hoses, etc. If there is a leak, the motor will suck the carb cleaner in, and you will hear a short increase in idle speed. Then you know you've found your leak. Unmeterered air entering the motor bypassing the MAF from vacuum leaks throws off the mixture.
When I do this, I connect a voltmeter between the O2 sensor lead and ground. I look for any fluctuation of the O2 reading to correspond with idle increase while shooting carb cleaner around seals, gaskets, and hoses. It's very effective. You can't always hear these leaks.
Last edited by 86PACER; Mar 10, 2010 at 04:54 PM.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Blackwood NJ
I found this kit online http://2011camaroperformanceparts.com/inc/sdetail/12167
Looks like it would work. How do I know if I have to reprogram the ECM with the '89 codes? Yes, Jon at FIC supplied me with new gen 3 injectors.
Looks like it would work. How do I know if I have to reprogram the ECM with the '89 codes? Yes, Jon at FIC supplied me with new gen 3 injectors.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,837
Likes: 338
From: Database Error Indiana
I ran mine 3 winters with the cold start unplugged. It gets down to single digits here and it just cranks a little more to get it started. No big deal. I remember someone on here JB Welded a penny (maybe a nickel
) in the hole and that worked.
) in the hole and that worked.
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 659
Likes: 5
From: Holden, MO
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Mine was doing something similar to yours. Had a bad O2 sensor. Wasn't allowing the computer to go to closed loop. It ran rich and poor gas mileage. Also it had a bad tps and didn't throw any codes.
Just some things to check. Don't throw parts at it just because.
Just some things to check. Don't throw parts at it just because.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 626
Likes: 2
From: Coquitlam British Columbia
Years back on my 1988 Formula 350 Firebird; I deleted the 9th injector. I got a Accel delete kit from Summit that plugged the fuel rail and a cover plug to replace the injector. Never peprogrammed but only ran it from May till the end of Oct. and had no start issues.
