Ghosts in the Electronics
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Ghosts in the Electronics
Hi. I am a new member and the new owner of a 81 vette. Short story on the car it was abandoned outside for 15 years. I have had it restored...mostly. Electrical is full of bugs the biggest and most pressing is the computer. It was ticking loudly last time I started it up. Knew I shouldn't have taken it out but I did and it died on the road doing 45 mph. Now it won't start but will crank. I don't know much about car electronics so I am looking for guidance.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
El, it sounds like you aren't getting any power to the spark plugs. You can check that by taking a spark plug out and grounding it against the engine while the wire is connected and some one is trying to start the car. If you don't see a spark, then you need to start tracing backwards to the source of the problem. If there is a spark, then the problem is that the cylinders are not getting fuel, so the spark has nothing to ignite. Given that you started and ran the car, I doubt this is the case. I dont' know much about 81 corvettes, but if you have an Engine Control Module, it sounds like the ticking isn't good and if there is no spark, I would replace the plug wires, cap, and rotor. If that didn't fix the problem, then I would replace the spark module if you have one. Sometimes when they get hot they quit working. After that, I would replace the ECM. If that didn't fis it, then I would take it to a professional. I hope that helps point you in the right direction.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,618
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
FYI.........keep ALL the parts that you take off the car.....99% of them have nothing wrong! (I learned that lesson $300 too late after replacing multiple sensors/switches/etc on my rough/not-running-sometimes engine........and a week later----It had the same problem again.....but the trash collector had already picked up the trash with all the "old" parts also!)
