I am also a new Kid on the block. Is that a song? I just got mine 3 days ago, an 87 Convertible. The body is in great shape, the motor is in great shape and the interior is in good shape.

I do have some questions on some problems.

1.The fuel gauge always reads full. Personally like this feature if it was always correct but the gas does seem to empty. What would be the level of difficulty to fix this problem.

2.Cruise control doesn't seem to work. I press the "Set" button but nothing seems to engage. What would be the likely problem? I saw the servo for sale but at $219, I don't want to be wrong in the part.

3.I seem to have a lose wire on the Automatic Climate Control unit. It works great but the display comes on and off at random. How easy is it to take off the panel and disconnect the unit to inspect it.

4.Neither the power lock or the Window seem to go work on the passenger door.

5.The head light **** is sitting in the glove compartment and I don't see how it attaches to the rod. Is it a pressure fitting and I am missing that piece? Or is some type of clip I am missing?

Thats it for now and thanks in advance!

 

Welcome,

My cruise control stopped working. It works off of a vac. I found a small crack in one of the rubber lines. These things are getting old and the rubber is getting very very brittle ck the rubber lines for brakes in them. Buy a factory service Manual best $$ i have spent Look on Ebay.
Fig. about $ 50.00 thats what i paid for mine that came with the electrical man. also! Get the Red Cover books the others are not the final edition. The people on this site are the best they bend over backwards to help you.....
Fill out your profile so that we can help you!
Steve

 

Check the wires going from the body to the door. Sometimes after a lot of use of the door the wires will crack and break

 

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the madness of Corvette ownership.
Considering the types of problems you are experiencing, I'd say you need to invest in the Helms, Inc. Factory Service Manual...NOW!

It will pay for itself on your first repair.

Here are my thoughts:

1. Fuel gage: Faulty sending unit or faulty fuel gage. Check ALL the fuses.
2. Cruise control: Vacuum leak(s), servo, switch. Check ALL the fuses.
3. Intermittant dash light: not easy to pull dash, but not impossible either.
4. Inop window/lock: bad switches, bad grounds, broken wires. Check ALL fuses.
5. HL ****: should just push on. May have damaged "catch".

Have you checked your underhood lights yet???

Larry
code5coupe

 

Welcome! I attended a class recently where they said corrosion was usually the problem for an inaacurate fuel sending unit. The fix is to eliminate the corrosion-prone connectors at the top of the sender by soldering the wires together and then using shrink tube over the newly soldered area. You can access this by first removing the rubber bib under the fuel door.
My 87's cruise control was fixed by cutting out a bad section of hose and reconnecting it at the vacumn "ball" located in the well under the driver's headlight.
I bought new switches to fix the window and door locks on my passenger side too. Go to the online catalog at www.corvettecentral.com and click on the C4 section.
For used parts you can't beat the price and service at www.vette2vette.com
As mentioned above, fill out your profile so we know where you are from. Maybe someone in your area would be glad to come over and help. Also check into the Forum's regional section for your area. Kinda neat to get with other Corvette lovers in your area for cruizing and socializing.

 

Thanks for the info. I will have to print it off and check all of it out this weekend. I will get that profile done ASAP. I am really in love with my Vet which hasn't happen since I had my 71 Firebird back in HS. I have started the corruption of my 5 year old, who loves to just sit in the car and listen to the motor. (That's my boy!)

 

Welcome

Hope all goes well with the repairs and BTW post some pics of that new ride

 

Welcome to the Forum! I bought a C4 two years ago and what I've learned on the forum has saved me a lot of grief and dollars. It takes a bit of time at first to find you way around. Read the "Sticky" notes at the beginning of the postings as these have a lot of basic info on the cars. Also learn how to do an "advanced" search in "archives" as there is a lot of information available there.

At first I started saving good posts on my computer but after a while I had accumulated a lot and they were getting unmanagable. I then got a large 3 ring binder and split it into sections - "Engine", "Cooling System", "Transmission", "Brakes", "Electrical", etc. and printed out the posts that I want to keep. I put them into clear plastic sheet covers under the appropriate heading. I found this system made it much easier to look up info I had saved.

As was already mentioned, you might want to get a Shop Manual for your car. They are available from Helms www.helminc.com which prints them for the factory. They are "year" specific as Corvettes change a bit year to year (just enough to throw you off! ) BTW: Make sure you type in the full model year "1987" as just "87" draws a blank.

If you haven't done it already look at the "sticky" post, "C4 RPO FAQ",at the beginning of C4 General list as this tells you where and how to identify exactly what options your car came with.

Answers to most of the questions you have asked can be found in the archives. Hit the search button and do an "advanced" search and that should find the info that you want. There was a big discussion several weeks back in cruise controls.

Here's a couple of links I found useful when I first started as one of the first things I did was to change out all the fluids- oil, coolant etc.

Jacking up your corvette:
http://zr1netregistry.com/jackupzr1/sld001.htm
http://www.c4guru.com/articles/TowingJacking.pdf

Again welcome and enjoy your "vette!

 

You will get around to asking sooner or later so I will answer now.

No, you did not pay to much for your corvette.

Drive it and enjoy it.




Seriously

Welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome! One thing, don't bother fixing the cruise control. They sould have never put one on a Corvette in the first place!

 

Welcome . When I first got my vetter my cruise control wasnt working either. Turned out it was disconnected under the dash. I've never used it once though!

 

I had the same problem on my 87 vert when I first bought it. Of course the dealership I bought it from replaced it free of charge and it ended up being the fuel pump sending unit. Enjoy your ride

 

The headlight **** has a little spring clip inside. I'll bet yours is missing. Just call Jason at Vette2Vette and he will get you one.

 

Good way to bond with your boy in the garage doing man things ARRRRRRRR ARRRRR. my little 2 yr old girl goes out there with me and sits in it and drives while i play under the hood. Just dont leave the keys around!!!!!!!!!

Steve

 

BTW, Chapin, you have two identical threads going.
You may want to delet one of them.

Larry
code5coupe

 

Yes. I notice it that when I did a refresh on the browser after it hung when I was creating the thread. I tried to delete it but did not see the ability to do so.


I want to say thanks for the links about jacking up the vette. It probably saved me the cost of a front windshield. I could have seen myself on a hot Southern Summer jacking it up without the top being in place.

 

The fuel gauge is likely the sending unit. It shouldn't be too difficult to rectify.

The cruise control could also be the switch. Those multi function levers tend to get worn after 20 years of use.

The doors and windows are most likely a fuse or ground issue. Purchase a Helms manual and start there.

You can purchase a new headlight level selector **** from the usual suspects. I do not believe that there is an retaining clip.

The dash can be a pain. Do basic maintenance while you're back there. Replace all of the bulbs just for good measure, pull the radio at that time if you're wanting to send it to Dr. Don's for refurbishing and upgrading. If you're going to start that project, plan out the details.

Best of luck and post some pics!

 

Does WOT count as cruise control?
Welcome to the CF brah! Let's see some pics!!!

 

Hmmmmm..... How DOES one delete a whole thread???!!! Is this a moderator's privilege only?

Larry
code5coupe

 

Thanks for all the help. I have a few more questions, but I will start new threads to keep things clean.