5.3 Cold Start System

Since the diesel engine relies on the heat of compression to ignite its fuel, it is harder to start in cold weather when the cold engine dissipates heat quickly. To compensate for hard cold starting conditions, the diesel injection pump includes a manually-operated timing advance feature. By means of a cable, pulling the cold start handle-one detent only on 1985 cars, the second detent on 1986 and later cars-advances injection timing by about 5°. The fuel is injected sooner and given more time to burn, offsetting most of the negative effects of a cold engine. The cold start feature affects injection timing up to about 2200 rpm.