Login to enhance your online experience. Login or Create an Account
Logo
Shopping Cart

Shopping Cart 0 Items (Empty)

Chevrolet Aveo T200 factory workshop and repair manual

Short version up front: the cold start injector (CSI) on the Chevrolet Aveo T200 is a small, electrically‑operated fuel valve that gives the engine a short extra shot of fuel during cold cranking and immediate cold running. If it fails you’ll get hard starts when cold, excessive smoke or flooding on cold starts, or poor idle until the engine warms. Below I explain why it exists, how it works, every part involved, how to diagnose and repair it step‑by‑step for a beginner mechanic, and what commonly goes wrong.

Safety first (don’t skip): work outdoors or in a well‑ventilated area, wear eye protection and gloves, have a fire extinguisher nearby, no open flames or smoking. Relieve fuel system pressure before disconnecting any fuel line. Disconnect the negative battery terminal when doing electrical work. Use proper tools and avoid forcing connectors or fittings.

1) What the cold start injector (CSI) does — the simple theory
- Purpose: give a short, controlled extra squirt of fuel when the engine is cold so the air–fuel mix is richer for easy starting and stable idle until the engine warms.
- Why it’s needed: a cold engine needs more fuel (richer mixture) because fuel doesn’t evaporate as well and combustion is less efficient. Modern systems use sensors/ECU to adjust fuel; the CSI provides an extra pulse at cranking that the main injectors can’t supply fast enough by themselves.
- How the system decides: the engine coolant temperature sensor (CTS) tells the ECU the engine is cold. The ECU then energizes the CSI for a short time (or pulses it) during cranking/start. Some systems also use a relay or timer circuit — on Aveo T200 the ECU directly controls the CSI based on CTS and crank status.

Analogy: think of the CSI like a small supplemental “choke” that gives the engine a sip of extra fuel when it’s cold, like giving a person a hot drink to warm up before heavy work.

2) Every component involved (detailed)
- Cold Start Injector (the part itself)
- Electrical connector / plug: two‑pin connector that supplies power/ground control to the CSI solenoid.
- Solenoid coil: the electromagnetic winding that pulls a plunger when energized.
- Armature / plunger: the moving metal piece that opens/closes the nozzle valve.
- Nozzle / spray tip: the orifice that meters fuel into the intake plenum or throttle bore.
- Valve seat: where the plunger seals when closed.
- O‑ring(s) / seal(s): rubber seals that seal the injector in the intake manifold and prevent vacuum/fuel leaks.
- Mounting bracket or screw(s): hardware that secures the CSI in the manifold.
- Body: metal/plastic housing that forms the injector assembly.
- Fuel supply port: the internal passage or small fuel feed line in the intake manifold that supplies fuel under pressure to the CSI.
- Wiring harness: the wires that run from the CSI connector to the ECU and fused ignition power.
- Fuses / ignition circuit: fuse(s) or fused ignition feed that supplies battery power to the CSI (may share feed with other circuits).
- Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS): provides cold/warm data to ECU; if CTS is wrong, ECU may or may not trigger CSI.
- ECU (Engine Control Unit): decides when to energize the CSI (during crank/when CTS reports cold).
- Ground/relay/driver transistor inside ECU: the controlled path that actually switches the CSI on/off; CSI may be grounded by ECU or the ECU may supply ground and battery power is constant — specifics vary but result is the ECU controls current through the solenoid.
- Intake manifold port / throttle body area: location the CSI sprays into; seals to the manifold.

3) Symptoms of a bad CSI
- Hard starting only when cold (starts fine when warm).
- Excessive black smoke or raw fuel smell on cold start (if stuck open or leaking).
- Flooding or fuel in intake on crank (stuck open).
- No change in enrichment when engine cold (stuck closed or not being commanded).
- Rough idle immediately after a cold start.
- No specific DTC in many cases — might be no start codes, but related codes (CTS, fuel trim) can point to issue.

4) Tools, parts and prep
- Tools:
- Metric socket set (8/10/11/12 mm common on small bolts).
- Ratchet with extension.
- Screwdrivers (flat and Phillips).
- Small pliers.
- Multimeter (DC voltage and ohms).
- Needle‑nose pliers or pick for O‑rings.
- Clean rags, safety glasses, gloves.
- Small container to catch drips.
- Torque wrench (helpful for reassembly; small N·m range).
- Small wire brush/contact cleaner (electrical).
- Fuel line quick disconnect tool if needed (check if CSI uses manifold feed).
- Parts:
- Replacement cold start injector (OEM or quality aftermarket) and O‑rings.
- If suspected wiring damage: replacement connector or repair kit.
- Small amount engine oil or O‑ring lubricant (light engine oil or petroleum jelly for seating O‑rings).
- Optional: scan tool to view coolant temp and injector pulse.

Prep:
- Park on level ground, parking brake on. Work area cooled; engine should have been run and cooled if you’ll test cold start—diagnosis usually requires a cold engine.

5) Locating the CSI on Aveo T200
- The CSI is usually mounted on the intake manifold or near the throttle body. It’s a small upright valve with an electrical plug and a small nozzle pointing into the intake. It’s separate from the main fuel rail injectors. On T200 engines look for a small single injector near the throttle body/intake manifold area, often with an electrical plug and one mounting screw.

6) Diagnostic checks (beginner‑friendly order)
A. Visual inspection
- Check connector: corrosion, bent pins, water intrusion.
- Check O‑rings for fuel wetness around the CSI boot (evidence of leaking).
- Check for cracked plastic, broken mounting screw, or loose fitting.
- Check wiring for chafing or breaks.

B. Electrical quick check
- With connector unplugged, set multimeter to ohms.
- Measure resistance across the two CSI pins. Typical cold start injectors are low‑impedance; expect a low reading (often a few ohms up to ~20 Ω). If infinite (open) it’s bad. If very low near 0.1 Ω shorted, likely shorted — bad.
- Note: exact spec varies; compare to replacement part spec or service manual. The goal is to find open circuit or wildly out‑of‑range.

C. Power/command check during cranking (one‑person test or use scan tool)
- Reconnect connector.
- Backprobing technique: have an assistant crank engine while you measure voltage on the supply pin and on the control pin. One pin should be battery voltage when ignition on (fused feed). The other will be switching (usually grounded by ECU) during crank when cold; you’ll see it pulsed to ground. If you have only one wire showing pulses, test between that pin and battery + to see if the driver pulls to ground.
- If no pulse, check CTS reading at ECU or scan tool. If ECU doesn’t see cold engine it won’t command CSI.
- If fuse is blown or no fused voltage present, check appropriate fuse/ignition circuit.

D. Functional bench or field test (caution: fuel spray hazard)
- Only if safe: remove the CSI and hold it while briefly applying 12V across its terminals for a split second to confirm the plunger moves ("click"). Do NOT do this with fuel lines connected or near faces/clothing. Better: use multimeter alone. If you do bench test, use a short tap of power; continuous power may overheat coil.
- Preferable: use a scan tool to command the CSI or a test light to see pulses during cranking.

E. Check related components
- CTS: if CTS reads warm when cold, ECU won’t command CSI — test CTS resistance vs temp spec or read temp on scan tool.
- Fuel pressure: if extremely low, cold start enrichment may not help.
- Intake vacuum leaks: can mask symptoms.

7) Removal (step‑by‑step for beginners)
- Tools: small ratchet, suitable socket (likely 8 or 10 mm), flat screwdriver, rag.
- Steps:
1. Relieve fuel pressure: locate fuel pump relay/fuse and crank engine to relieve pressure, or consult manual for proper pressure relief method. Catch fuel in rag/container for drips.
2. Disconnect negative battery terminal.
3. Remove any air intake ducting or components blocking access to the CSI (remove airbox lid or ducts if necessary).
4. Unplug the electrical connector on the CSI: depress the tab and pull straight off. If stuck, gently pry the locking tab with a small screwdriver while pulling.
5. Place a rag under the injector to catch any drips. If the CSI uses a small fuel line, loosen clamp and remove line carefully.
6. Remove the mounting screw(s) or clamp holding the CSI to the manifold.
7. Pull the CSI straight out — twist slightly if stuck. Use small pick to remove O‑rings if staying in manifold.
8. Inspect the injector O‑rings and manifold seat for damage, carbon, or debris.

8) Cleaning vs replacement
- Cleaning: external carbon/deposits on tip can sometimes be cleaned gently with brake cleaner or carb cleaner. Internal valve deposits are difficult to reliably clean; replacement is usually recommended because they are inexpensive relative to headaches and reliability concerns.
- Replace O‑rings whenever removing injector. O‑rings age and will leak if reused.
- Never use petroleum solvents that dry out rubber; lubricate new O‑rings lightly with engine oil or specified O‑ring lubricant before installation.

9) Bench testing and installation
- Bench test (electrical): measure resistance again. Optionally apply a brief 12V pulse to confirm plunger movement (do this only in well‑ventilated area and avoid fuel spray).
- Installation:
1. Lubricate new O‑rings lightly and install them on the CSI.
2. Insert CSI into manifold until seated. Don’t force; ensure correct orientation.
3. Secure with mounting screw(s). Tighten snugly — small injector screws typically ~7–10 N·m (60–90 in‑lb). If you don’t have a torque wrench, tighten until snug and then a small additional 1/4 turn; don’t strip threads.
4. Reconnect fuel lines if applicable and electrical connector.
5. Reinstall any intake ducting removed.
6. Reconnect negative battery terminal.

10) Post‑repair checks and tests
- Turn ignition ON (don’t crank) and check for fuel seepage around CSI. No leaks.
- If you have a scan tool, clear any stored codes and watch engine coolant temp, short term fuel trims.
- Start engine cold. The engine should start better; listen for an extra pulse of fuel action (rough idle may smooth as it warms).
- Check for fuel odors/smoke. If excessive, shut down — CSI may be stuck open or something else is wrong.

11) Common failure modes and diagnostics summary (what can go wrong)
- Open circuit in solenoid: CSI doesn’t energize — no extra fuel. Symptoms: hard cold starts. Test: infinite ohms.
- Shorted coil: draws too much current, may blow fuse/overload ECU driver. Symptoms: blown fuse, possible ECU driver damage.
- Stuck open (plunger stuck open): continuous fuel flow, flooding, black smoke, raw fuel smell, poor idle. Usually mechanical contamination or worn valve seat. Replace injector.
- Leaking O‑rings: vacuum leak or fuel drip. Symptoms: poor idle, fuel smell. Fix: replace O‑rings, ensure clean seat.
- Connector corrosion or open circuit—intermittent operation. Fix: clean/replace connector, repair wiring.
- ECU not commanding (sensor issue or ECU fault): no pulses though injector is OK. Check CTS reading and wiring, fuses, and scan tool. If CTS reads warm when cold, replace CTS or check wiring.
- Fuel supply problem: low fuel pressure means no enrichment even if CSI pulses. Check fuel pressure and supply.
- Internal carbon/clog: injector doesn’t flow or flows poorly. Replacement recommended.

12) Practical tips, analogies and cautions
- Analogy: the CSI is like a single extra teaspoon of sugar you add to a cold cup of coffee to make it palatable until it heats up. Too little (stuck closed) = bitter cold start; too much (stuck open) = an over‑sweetened, wasted mess (flood).
- Don’t try to “shoot” fuel by bench‑powering the injector with fuel attached — you can spray fuel and create a hazard.
- Always replace O‑rings; they’re cheap and prevent leaks.
- If changing CSI doesn’t fix cold starting, test CTS and look at fuel trims. A wrong CTS can fool the ECU into thinking the engine is warm and not command CSI. Also check engine grounds and vacuum leaks.
- Document everything and take photos before removal if you’re unsure where hoses/connectors go.

13) When to replace vs repair
- Replace the CSI if:
- Electrical resistance is open or shorted.
- It’s physically leaking or stuck.
- Cleaning doesn’t restore reliable operation.
- Repair wiring/connector if only the connector is corroded but injector tests good.
- Replace CTS or fix sensors/ECU if injector is commanded incorrectly.

14) Expected cost and time (rough)
- Part cost: CSI is relatively inexpensive (varies by region; small part).
- O‑rings: cheap.
- Time: 0.5–1.5 hours for a beginner depending on accessibility and whether other parts must be moved.

Wrap‑up checklist before you finish:
- New injector installed, O‑rings lubricated and seated.
- Electrical connector clean and secure.
- No fuel leaks with ignition ON.
- Cold start tested and improved.
- Codes cleared and no new DTCs related to fuel or temp sensors.

That’s the full beginner‑friendly, component‑by‑component guide to diagnosing, removing, testing, and replacing the cold start injector on a Chevrolet Aveo T200, plus how the system works and what commonly goes wrong. Follow safety steps and replace the CSI and O‑rings rather than trying to make a marginal unit last.
rteeqp73

You Might Also Like...

Kryptronic Internet Software Solutions