LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone: 1960-2025
Home >> Buick >> 1980 >> Skyhawk Base, Standard Trans >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Engine Performance >> Engine Control Systems >> Transmission Controlled Spark System >> General Motors Deceleration Valve >> Description & Operation
April 5, 2026: LEMON Manuals is launched! Read the announcement.

Description & Operation

The deceleration valve is used on some 4 and 6 cylinder engines to prevent backfiring in the exhaust system during deceleration. Valve is normally closed, but opens when sudden deceleration increases vacuum to a point which overcomes the internal spring pressure. This opening allows additional air into the intake manifold to prevent overly rich mixtures from reaching the combustion chambers.

Air trapped in chamber above vacuum diaphragm will bleed through delay valve inside deceleration valve in order to reduce vacuum signal acting on the diaphragm. When vacuum load on diaphragm and spring load are equal, valve assembly closes, shutting off air to intake manifold. Fig. 1. 

Check valve portion of Check and Delay Valve assembly, provides quick balancing of chamber pressure when sudden decrease in vacuum is caused by acceleration rather than deceleration.

NOTE: Refer to "General Motors Vacuum Diagrams" in this section for valve location and hose routing.
Fig 1: Sectional View of Deceleration Valve Used on 1980 Engines
G09343233Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY