Engine running bad
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Engine running bad
Issues, Issues. Three weeks ago I drove my car downtown for dinner. It was about a 30 minute trip. I went in to eat. An hour later I was done. I drove my car down the street and it started running very bad, skipping. It wouldn't do more than 35 mph. I had it towed home. About a week later I started it and it idled fine. I drove it for about 15 minutes and returned home. I went in the house and came back out 10minutes later and drove the car. It started running bad and skipping again. Its really bizzare. Help!
C3 Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 3
Is your car throwing any codes?
If not, have you changed the fuel filter recently?
Those are the quick things that come to mind.
At least it doesn't have an OptiSpark, so I'm thinking fuel flow. Bad fuel pump, partially clogged fuel filter, etc.
I'm sure other, way more experienced Vette-heads have experienced this. Give this thread a day and you'll have all sorts of info.
If not, have you changed the fuel filter recently?
Those are the quick things that come to mind.
At least it doesn't have an OptiSpark, so I'm thinking fuel flow. Bad fuel pump, partially clogged fuel filter, etc.
I'm sure other, way more experienced Vette-heads have experienced this. Give this thread a day and you'll have all sorts of info.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
St. Jude Donor '06
What is skipping? Is the RPM hunting or is the engine miss firing?
If it only does it when hot, sounds like an ignition problem and like raven asked, is there any codes?
If it only does it when hot, sounds like an ignition problem and like raven asked, is there any codes?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton Oregon
Check the MAF. Mine ran poorly, I cleaned the MAF, problem solved. Sometimes just disconnecting/reconnecting the MAF will help. You do have a MAF? Is the Distributor loose?
C3 Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 3
If you do any of your own wrenching, you really should have a code reader/scanner.
The Auto X-Ray EZ 2000 is what I have. I paid $199.00 for mine last year and it has paid for itself in reading codes. This reader is OBD I & II compliant so you can use it on any other car that uses OBD codes (all cars from 1996 forward are OBD II compliant).
You can now get a new one for $79.00. I wish I had this sweet deal last year.
http://tinyurl.com/6hcwhp
The Auto X-Ray EZ 2000 is what I have. I paid $199.00 for mine last year and it has paid for itself in reading codes. This reader is OBD I & II compliant so you can use it on any other car that uses OBD codes (all cars from 1996 forward are OBD II compliant).
You can now get a new one for $79.00. I wish I had this sweet deal last year.
http://tinyurl.com/6hcwhp
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Not necessarily. Check the codes.
The MAF is between the TB and air filter. When the engine starts running rough shut it down, unplug the wiring connector to the MAF and restart the engine. If the engine runs better, you can clean it (MAF) or troubleshoot the burnoff relay and power relay. Do a search on the subject. Lots of experience here to draw on.
The MAF is between the TB and air filter. When the engine starts running rough shut it down, unplug the wiring connector to the MAF and restart the engine. If the engine runs better, you can clean it (MAF) or troubleshoot the burnoff relay and power relay. Do a search on the subject. Lots of experience here to draw on.
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Oct 23, 2008 at 11:44 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Idianapolis Indiana
Mass Air Flow sensor. It will be a round object inbetween the throttle body and the air filter. It measures how much air enters the engine so the ECM can calculate the proper ammount of fuel to maintain AF ratio.