looking at '90 'vette
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
looking at '90 'vette
Good morning,
I am going to look at a '90 'vette this morning.Is there anything special that I need to be aware of or do I look for the same things I would check out if I were looking at a C-3?Thanks in advance.
tankman
I am going to look at a '90 'vette this morning.Is there anything special that I need to be aware of or do I look for the same things I would check out if I were looking at a C-3?Thanks in advance.
tankman
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Check all the electronics, get it up to speed to check for vibrations (Ujoiints). Should idle nice and smooth...L98s have a tendency to get a slightly rough idle (old multech injectors), it should be nice and smooth.
Check display for engine lights, 90s are ntorious for the seatbelt or SYS light to be on (not a big deal to fix).
Look and listen for the usual stuff (oil pressure, temp, etc).
Good looking year! (90)
Check display for engine lights, 90s are ntorious for the seatbelt or SYS light to be on (not a big deal to fix).
Look and listen for the usual stuff (oil pressure, temp, etc).
Good looking year! (90)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Okeechobee FL
I have a 1990 and totaly LOVE it, but they do have a few little "issues" (like any other MY):
They have a tendancy to blow the head gasket at the #7 Cylinder - mine did it at 96,000 miles. This issue was corrected for the 1991 MY.
VATS issue - I would recommend bypassing the VATS if you buy it. Or at least replace Fuel Enable Relay and Starter Enable Relay ($5 each).
Buy at Helms Factory Service Manual for whatever year you buy!!!!!!!!!!
Tachometers on 90's seem to always get WAY out of calibration - Mine shows 6,000 RPM's at idle. Approx $200 to send off to recalibrate..
RF Wheel Sensor (Air Bag) - Clear Code when it happens - You will see the Seat Belt Light stay on along with the SIR (Supp Inflatable Rest) light on the IP.
Then you have the usual things such as headlight doors, electronics, Bose Radios always suck, lumbar pump diaphrams & lumbar bladder, seat motors, window motors, window seals & weatherstripping.
All in all, the 1990 is a great MY - New Instrument Panel with the old rear facia. I have really enjoyed mine and am in no way sorry that I bought her. This Forum is absolutely integral to proper maintenance and repair of any C4. Good Luck
They have a tendancy to blow the head gasket at the #7 Cylinder - mine did it at 96,000 miles. This issue was corrected for the 1991 MY.
VATS issue - I would recommend bypassing the VATS if you buy it. Or at least replace Fuel Enable Relay and Starter Enable Relay ($5 each).
Buy at Helms Factory Service Manual for whatever year you buy!!!!!!!!!!
Tachometers on 90's seem to always get WAY out of calibration - Mine shows 6,000 RPM's at idle. Approx $200 to send off to recalibrate..
RF Wheel Sensor (Air Bag) - Clear Code when it happens - You will see the Seat Belt Light stay on along with the SIR (Supp Inflatable Rest) light on the IP.
Then you have the usual things such as headlight doors, electronics, Bose Radios always suck, lumbar pump diaphrams & lumbar bladder, seat motors, window motors, window seals & weatherstripping.
All in all, the 1990 is a great MY - New Instrument Panel with the old rear facia. I have really enjoyed mine and am in no way sorry that I bought her. This Forum is absolutely integral to proper maintenance and repair of any C4. Good Luck
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Thing is all Vettes have some kind of issue(s) but they are all pretty common yr to yr and the fixes are here. Dont fear buying one of these but dont expect to get one and never have to do anything to it either. They are 18 yrs old, after all. If its well maintained thats about as good as you can do.
Check the wiring harness to make sure it hasnt been butchered, either.
Check the wiring harness to make sure it hasnt been butchered, either.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
The above responses are right on, I also have a '90, and I love her. Any problems you encounter we can help you with, but you are going to need a Factory Service Manual to do any real work on her.
Good luck, and post some pictures when you get her.
Good luck, and post some pictures when you get her.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: DrunkDefender
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
CI-IV AutoX Champ
CI-IV Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '07-'10
All the above responses are right in line except for the 90 models being prone to head gasket failure AFAIK. I've never seen them being more prone to that than any other SBC. YMMV.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Rear intake manifold leak is VERY common on the L98 tuned port engine.
Look for an oily engine block usually on the rear drivers side in between the valve cover and firewall. Also, there'll be a little oil drip underneath the oil pan and coolant on the top of the intake manifold.
I owned an "89" and "91" and both had the rear intake manifold leak.
Look for an oily engine block usually on the rear drivers side in between the valve cover and firewall. Also, there'll be a little oil drip underneath the oil pan and coolant on the top of the intake manifold.
I owned an "89" and "91" and both had the rear intake manifold leak.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
Thanks Everyone.I just got back.It drove real nice,not as rough as my old C-3.If I get it I'll have to get use to stepping up and over to get in and sit down.
All of you have given me a lot of information,and I'll have to learn where some of the lights and displays are and recheck them.All in all I had a favorable impression of the '90,and if I buy it I'll learn how to post some pics,or ask someone to post them for me.Thanks again for helping me.
tankman
All of you have given me a lot of information,and I'll have to learn where some of the lights and displays are and recheck them.All in all I had a favorable impression of the '90,and if I buy it I'll learn how to post some pics,or ask someone to post them for me.Thanks again for helping me.
tankman
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Okeechobee FL
Pull the Codes. The paper clip method is the easiest. Write them down, then clear the codes. Then look them up in your FSM. If you haven't had a chance to purchase a FSM yet, post the codes on here and someone will look them up for you. Wear flame retardant clothes when you post because you will get flamed a little, but just tell them you hadn't recieved your FSM yet. Mine was a RF Wheel Sensor and the Lateral Accelorometer. I had to replace the Lateral Accelorometer, cleared the codes and then all was well.
As to the #7 Head Gasket Leak, GM issued a Technical Service Bulletin covering this issue. It is not guaranteed to happen, just more likely than usual. If your radiator starts loosing water with no apparent leak, this is the likely reason.
As to the #7 Head Gasket Leak, GM issued a Technical Service Bulletin covering this issue. It is not guaranteed to happen, just more likely than usual. If your radiator starts loosing water with no apparent leak, this is the likely reason.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1961215
There is a good link in there that gives the fix for the problem.
There is a good link in there that gives the fix for the problem.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
Hello again everyone,
I just finished having a great conversation with trulytex.I e-mailed him for some more specifics since he was one of the first forum members to mention that he currently has a '90,and of course that's what I'm currently checking out.He responded and even sent pics of his 'vette. Interestingly,he has a polo green vert,and I'm looking at a polo green coupe.
RandyJ75 also stated that he has a '90,so I'll "bug" him next time
.The biggest issue I need to resolve before I buy is getting in and out of the C4.The 'vettes I previously owned were C3's and getting in or out was easy.
Thanks again to everyone who responded to my request for help.i'll keep everyone posted if I buy.
tankman
I just finished having a great conversation with trulytex.I e-mailed him for some more specifics since he was one of the first forum members to mention that he currently has a '90,and of course that's what I'm currently checking out.He responded and even sent pics of his 'vette. Interestingly,he has a polo green vert,and I'm looking at a polo green coupe.
RandyJ75 also stated that he has a '90,so I'll "bug" him next time
.The biggest issue I need to resolve before I buy is getting in and out of the C4.The 'vettes I previously owned were C3's and getting in or out was easy.Thanks again to everyone who responded to my request for help.i'll keep everyone posted if I buy.
tankman
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
Well,the hunt continues.I took the '90 on a twenty minute highway ride and then parked.I smelled oil,and then it started dripping on to the ground.I used a flashlight and could see lots of oil behind the distributor 
.I imagine some gasket or seal is shot,and I don't want to deal with it.Thanks for all of the help you guys have given me.
tankman
.I imagine some gasket or seal is shot,and I don't want to deal with it.Thanks for all of the help you guys have given me.tankman
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 3
From: Maine
Well,the hunt continues.I took the '90 on a twenty minute highway ride and then parked.I smelled oil,and then it started dripping on to the ground.I used a flashlight and could see lots of oil behind the distributor .I imagine some gasket or seal is shot,and I don't want to deal with it.Thanks for all of the help you guys have given me.
tankman
.I imagine some gasket or seal is shot,and I don't want to deal with it.Thanks for all of the help you guys have given me.tankman
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
Thanks.I'm still going to hunt some more.I gave the owner an opportunity to renegotiate but he only dropped the price $500.There were a couple of other issues re: the computer codes.I'm finished with it,and happy to rejoin the hunt.
tankman
tankman
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Randy