Ay Carumba!!!
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Carolina Beach NC
Ay Carumba!!!
Okay ... here goes. I have been in Coastal North Carolina now since July of 2007. It has taken a while to learn the area and find out from the locals where to go to get decent service. After months of research (which usually means sharing a beer with folks at the bar), I discovered the name of a local auto service and repair shop with high marks. Well, after about a month of rough idling on my '90 Coupe, I decided to take my baby to this shop to get it looked at and diagnosed. BTW, this local shop advertises themselves as a Chevrolet Specialist.
My goal was to find out what was wrong so that I don't just keep throwing piles of money "under the hood." So, anyway, the Chevy Specialist had my Vette for the whole day and called me at about 4:00 in the afternoon. His comment (and this is a quote), "The only code in the computer is a rich condition. We see nothing to cause this and we can't read live data in this age vehicle. The [rough] idle is normal for these LT1 engines. Know of no known cure for it." I have posted a picture of my LT1 engine below.
This guy must be joking ... except it isn't April Fool's Day.
Honestly, it is really bad when I know more about the car than the Chevy Specialist.
Needless to say, I will continue my quest to find a service/repair shop where the mechanics know what they are talking about. I guess I need to go to a different bar and hang out with some other people.
My goal was to find out what was wrong so that I don't just keep throwing piles of money "under the hood." So, anyway, the Chevy Specialist had my Vette for the whole day and called me at about 4:00 in the afternoon. His comment (and this is a quote), "The only code in the computer is a rich condition. We see nothing to cause this and we can't read live data in this age vehicle. The [rough] idle is normal for these LT1 engines. Know of no known cure for it." I have posted a picture of my LT1 engine below.
This guy must be joking ... except it isn't April Fool's Day.
Honestly, it is really bad when I know more about the car than the Chevy Specialist.Needless to say, I will continue my quest to find a service/repair shop where the mechanics know what they are talking about. I guess I need to go to a different bar and hang out with some other people.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Okay ... here goes. I have been in Coastal North Carolina now since July of 2007. It has taken a while to learn the area and find out from the locals where to go to get decent service. After months of research (which usually means sharing a beer with folks at the bar), I discovered the name of a local auto service and repair shop with high marks. Well, after about a month of rough idling on my '90 Coupe, I decided to take my baby to this shop to get it looked at and diagnosed. BTW, this local shop advertises themselves as a Chevrolet Specialist.
My goal was to find out what was wrong so that I don't just keep throwing piles of money "under the hood." So, anyway, the Chevy Specialist had my Vette for the whole day and called me at about 4:00 in the afternoon. His comment (and this is a quote), "The only code in the computer is a rich condition. We see nothing to cause this and we can't read live data in this age vehicle. The [rough] idle is normal for these LT1 engines. Know of no known cure for it." I have posted a picture of my LT1 engine below.
This guy must be joking ... except it isn't April Fool's Day. Honestly, it is really bad when I know more about the car than the Chevy Specialist.
Needless to say, I will continue my quest to find a service/repair shop where the mechanics know what they are talking about. I guess I need to go to a different bar and hang out with some other people.
My goal was to find out what was wrong so that I don't just keep throwing piles of money "under the hood." So, anyway, the Chevy Specialist had my Vette for the whole day and called me at about 4:00 in the afternoon. His comment (and this is a quote), "The only code in the computer is a rich condition. We see nothing to cause this and we can't read live data in this age vehicle. The [rough] idle is normal for these LT1 engines. Know of no known cure for it." I have posted a picture of my LT1 engine below.
This guy must be joking ... except it isn't April Fool's Day.
Honestly, it is really bad when I know more about the car than the Chevy Specialist.Needless to say, I will continue my quest to find a service/repair shop where the mechanics know what they are talking about. I guess I need to go to a different bar and hang out with some other people.
I think he is politely giving you the elbow, and does not want to work on your car. The fuel injection system is remarkably similar to a cavalier of lumina.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 93
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From: Carolina Beach NC
Yea ... I know it's an L98 ... that's what I meant. I think you are right. They just didn't want to work on it. But to tell me it's an LT1 when i KNOW it isn't .... I was dumbfounded. I couldn't even speak. Just gimme the keys and let me out of here!!! That's what I was thinking.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Yea ... I know it's an L98 ... that's what I meant. I think you are right. They just didn't want to work on it. But to tell me it's an LT1 when i KNOW it isn't .... I was dumbfounded. I couldn't even speak. Just gimme the keys and let me out of here!!! That's what I was thinking.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Ha had no idea how to diagnose it and blwe smoke up your tailpipe.
Even the local Chebby dealer out here says they dont deal with/remember about OBD 1 cars. Keep looking, a good running TPI will idle nice and smooth. Not as silky as an LT1 but pretty darn good.
Even the local Chebby dealer out here says they dont deal with/remember about OBD 1 cars. Keep looking, a good running TPI will idle nice and smooth. Not as silky as an LT1 but pretty darn good.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 545
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Pesky EGR (exhaust gas return)valve
Located inside the intake,can get residue in the valve(s)and stick.
These valves are integral to your idle control.
Buy some GM intake cleaner ($10-$15)and follow instructions to the LETTER.Totally solved rough idle on my 93 4.3 vortec.
Good Luck
These valves are integral to your idle control.
Buy some GM intake cleaner ($10-$15)and follow instructions to the LETTER.Totally solved rough idle on my 93 4.3 vortec.
Good Luck
Last edited by kenmack; Apr 9, 2008 at 11:17 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 93
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From: Carolina Beach NC
Thankfully No
At least he didn't charge me anything ... not even for the "expert" diagnosis. I am actually gonna try a different shop on Monday. I spent a hour with the guy yesterday just talking about the car. He informed me that he was the Vette mechanic at the local Chevy dealer about 10 years ago. When I showed him the quote from the other Chevy specialist ... he laughed hysterically. At least he knows the engine is a stock L98.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 42
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From: Naples FL
That is too, too funny. Reminds me of a shop in Elizabeth City, NC....
He could be on to something. running rich I mean. These are the old single wire O2 sensors, right? Also if the water temp sensor is going south and giving a false reading to the computer it will stay in open loop. Both of these two things will cause it to stay in open loop which is not a bad thing for top end power production. But it does fudge up the lower end due to excessive heat (normal op temp) which it would go closed loop at that time.
Have you ever used any type of silicone from the aircleaner back?? Any, and I mean ANY silicone will pump thru the system and fudge up the O2 sensor, which will cause it to give false readings.
One last ditch effort is the fuel pressure regulator is stuck at full pressure while at idle and the computer cannot get the injector dwell low enough to compensate for it.
All three scenarios are relatively cheap.
J
He could be on to something. running rich I mean. These are the old single wire O2 sensors, right? Also if the water temp sensor is going south and giving a false reading to the computer it will stay in open loop. Both of these two things will cause it to stay in open loop which is not a bad thing for top end power production. But it does fudge up the lower end due to excessive heat (normal op temp) which it would go closed loop at that time.
Have you ever used any type of silicone from the aircleaner back?? Any, and I mean ANY silicone will pump thru the system and fudge up the O2 sensor, which will cause it to give false readings.
One last ditch effort is the fuel pressure regulator is stuck at full pressure while at idle and the computer cannot get the injector dwell low enough to compensate for it.
All three scenarios are relatively cheap.
J
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Carolina Beach NC
That is too, too funny. Reminds me of a shop in Elizabeth City, NC....
He could be on to something. running rich I mean. These are the old single wire O2 sensors, right? Also if the water temp sensor is going south and giving a false reading to the computer it will stay in open loop. Both of these two things will cause it to stay in open loop which is not a bad thing for top end power production. But it does fudge up the lower end due to excessive heat (normal op temp) which it would go closed loop at that time.
Have you ever used any type of silicone from the aircleaner back?? Any, and I mean ANY silicone will pump thru the system and fudge up the O2 sensor, which will cause it to give false readings.
One last ditch effort is the fuel pressure regulator is stuck at full pressure while at idle and the computer cannot get the injector dwell low enough to compensate for it.
All three scenarios are relatively cheap.
J
He could be on to something. running rich I mean. These are the old single wire O2 sensors, right? Also if the water temp sensor is going south and giving a false reading to the computer it will stay in open loop. Both of these two things will cause it to stay in open loop which is not a bad thing for top end power production. But it does fudge up the lower end due to excessive heat (normal op temp) which it would go closed loop at that time.
Have you ever used any type of silicone from the aircleaner back?? Any, and I mean ANY silicone will pump thru the system and fudge up the O2 sensor, which will cause it to give false readings.
One last ditch effort is the fuel pressure regulator is stuck at full pressure while at idle and the computer cannot get the injector dwell low enough to compensate for it.
All three scenarios are relatively cheap.
J
