Engine run issue
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Tehachapi CA
Engine run issue
My 86 Corvette starts, but must have the gas pedal depressed constantly to keep it running. Once moving, the car will drive forever. However, if I have to stop for a red light, etc, the engine will die, unless I keep applying gas. The car is fuel injected.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Last edited by CooterTate; Jan 4, 2009 at 03:20 PM. Reason: Title was unclear
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
At what RPM does it begin to have trouble?
A stock L98 in good condition should idle at 650RPM, I believe. Do you have to keep it above that, or can you hold it there with the throttle?
If you can hold the car at idle with the throttle, than I would suspect a dirty throttle body/IAC or dead/malfunctioning IAC. I would clean the throttle body/IAC and go through the base idle reset procedure (this will require some special tools, you can get them from a corvette supply house - corvette central, Mid America, etc).
If the car dies well above 650RPM, then you have a different problem, perhaps a vacuum leak, or spark issue.
A stock L98 in good condition should idle at 650RPM, I believe. Do you have to keep it above that, or can you hold it there with the throttle?
If you can hold the car at idle with the throttle, than I would suspect a dirty throttle body/IAC or dead/malfunctioning IAC. I would clean the throttle body/IAC and go through the base idle reset procedure (this will require some special tools, you can get them from a corvette supply house - corvette central, Mid America, etc).
If the car dies well above 650RPM, then you have a different problem, perhaps a vacuum leak, or spark issue.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Let's start with the basics. How many pounds of fuel pressure do you have on the fuel rail @..
Initial key on.
Idle (or as close as you can get)
Under load.
Tape the gauge to your windshield, tell me what you've got. We'll go from there.
I honestly suspect a dead IAC, but I want to rule out other fuel system issues first.
Initial key on.
Idle (or as close as you can get)
Under load.
Tape the gauge to your windshield, tell me what you've got. We'll go from there.
I honestly suspect a dead IAC, but I want to rule out other fuel system issues first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
At what RPM does it begin to have trouble?
A stock L98 in good condition should idle at 650RPM, I believe. Do you have to keep it above that, or can you hold it there with the throttle?
If you can hold the car at idle with the throttle, than I would suspect a dirty throttle body/IAC or dead/malfunctioning IAC. I would clean the throttle body/IAC and go through the base idle reset procedure (this will require some special tools, you can get them from a corvette supply house - corvette central, Mid America, etc).
If the car dies well above 650RPM, then you have a different problem, perhaps a vacuum leak, or spark issue.
A stock L98 in good condition should idle at 650RPM, I believe. Do you have to keep it above that, or can you hold it there with the throttle?
If you can hold the car at idle with the throttle, than I would suspect a dirty throttle body/IAC or dead/malfunctioning IAC. I would clean the throttle body/IAC and go through the base idle reset procedure (this will require some special tools, you can get them from a corvette supply house - corvette central, Mid America, etc).
If the car dies well above 650RPM, then you have a different problem, perhaps a vacuum leak, or spark issue.
The FIRST logical step is to clean the idle ports in the TB and do the full idle set procedure (search in the tech section). It isn't difficult at all. I don't know of any special tools for this though.
Post the results after you do that
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski