by Denny Lambert
If you have a strong odor of gasoline coming from the enginebay of your V6 Fiero, especially noticeable for a while after shutting offthe engine, check the cold-start assembly connection at the fuel rail. Thereis a small o-ring inside the connector assembly that tends to leak as thecar gets older. Breakdown with age is the governing factor here, notmileage, so this failure will increase in frequency as these cars age. Oncea leak starts, this becomes a very dangerous situation and must be fixedimmediately.
Location of cold-start assembly at fuel rail.
The only replacement o-ring I have been able tofind is in the cold-start o-ring kit available from GM dealers. This kitconsists of three o-rings, and I've found it easier to replace all threewhile you're at it.
My recommendation is do not tell the parts person it's for a Fiero andyou'll get better service. In fact, there is no need to mention anyparticular vehicle. Just tell them it's an o-ring kit and give them the partnumber: 17111954.
The first step is to be certain the pressure is out of the fuel system.There is a Schrader valve on the right side of the fuel rail. Hold a ragover the valve while relieving the pressure to prevent fuel from sprayinginto your eyes.
Next, remove the distributor cap to give yourself more working room.Ideally, removing the entire distributor would be better, but not absolutelynecessary. You'll still be able to reach everything, it just takes a littlepatience to work the cold-start assembly out of the confined space in there.
You'll need the following tools: 18 and 16-mm open-endwrenches, 10mm socket, ratchet handle and an extension of at least 10inches.
I recommend removing the 10mm bolt at the injector first. The injector islocated in front of the distributor (firewall-side of engine), and low onthe intake manifold. The electrical connector on the injector releases bydepressing the wire toward the injector. Push in and hold, then pull on theconnector. Loosen and remove the 10-mm bolt.
Cold-start assembly
Now you can loosen the fitting at the fuel railusing the 18-mm open-end wrench. This is a two piece pressure fitting, butwill unscrew as one piece and come out with the assembly.
As I indicated, patience is now required to maneuver the assembly out ofthere. To replace the small o-ring (the leaker), you mustdisassemble the two-piece fuel rail connector. Since the fitting is verytight, I recommend locking it in a vice (be very careful and do notover-tighten the vice or you'll crush the fitting!) and using the 16 mmwrench to loosen the inner part of the fitting. You may need to tap on thewrench with a hammer to break the fitting loose.
Once the fitting is separated pull the piece with threads on both endsoff the cold-start tube.
The medium-sized o-ring in the kit replaces the combination washer andseal. Remove the small o-ring using a small screwdriver or small needle-nosepliers.
After replacing the two o-rings, push the fitting back on the cold-starttube and tighten the fitting.
The large o-ring in the kit replaces the large one on the cold-startinjector.
Inner fitting removed from tube.
Cold-start injector
Reinstall on the engine by first inserting thefitting at the fuel rail, but do not thread into place yet. Push thecold-start injector into its opening, then replace the 10-mm bolt, but donot tighten. Now go back and thread the fuel-rail fitting into place, andtighten. Now you can tighten the 10-mm bolt at the injector.
Finally, replace the distributor cap, or distributor if you removed it.Fire up the engine. No more leak!