Jerking Corvette
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Newbury Park Ca
Jerking Corvette
Hey all,
Well, just got back from a 200 mile drive this afternoon, decided to pick up a few groceries and BAM, out of the blue, as I'm pulling out of the lot (from a stop) my Corvette starts jerking. The rest of the drive home (2 miles) was awful, and on that drive my car felt like it wasn't selecting gears properly. I should add that it is a 1990 with 156,000 miles in an automatic. It is stock. I assume that it is probably the transmission failing since it felt a lot like it was trying to engage 1st gear.
Also, since I bought this car I have had a lot of trouble trying to get it into reverse and the overdrive selection.
What do you think? Sound like the transmission? Will it need to be rebuilt? Could it be the differential/universal? Can I do this work on my own using the factory service manual from Helms?
Thanks!
Well, just got back from a 200 mile drive this afternoon, decided to pick up a few groceries and BAM, out of the blue, as I'm pulling out of the lot (from a stop) my Corvette starts jerking. The rest of the drive home (2 miles) was awful, and on that drive my car felt like it wasn't selecting gears properly. I should add that it is a 1990 with 156,000 miles in an automatic. It is stock. I assume that it is probably the transmission failing since it felt a lot like it was trying to engage 1st gear.
Also, since I bought this car I have had a lot of trouble trying to get it into reverse and the overdrive selection.
What do you think? Sound like the transmission? Will it need to be rebuilt? Could it be the differential/universal? Can I do this work on my own using the factory service manual from Helms?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Newbury Park Ca
Darn. I figured that it was the transmission. :-\ Anyone recommend a shop near Thousand Oaks, Ca or Ventura County, Ca? I'll make some calls today about it. While I'm having it rebuilt, any recommendations on high performance parts? I might as well I suppose.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
sounds like a bad set of plug wires or a cracked dist. cap or the plugs finally gave out or the egr valve stuck partially open.
Also, the gear selection may be a bad shifter cable. Thr jerking in and out may also be low trans fluid or a dirty trans filter. lots of possibilities. Get with a friend that messes with cars and see if he may have some suggestions.
This doesn't sound bad just yet.
Also, the gear selection may be a bad shifter cable. Thr jerking in and out may also be low trans fluid or a dirty trans filter. lots of possibilities. Get with a friend that messes with cars and see if he may have some suggestions.
This doesn't sound bad just yet.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 589
Likes: 1
From: PA
sounds like a bad set of plug wires or a cracked dist. cap or the plugs finally gave out or the egr valve stuck partially open.
Also, the gear selection may be a bad shifter cable. Thr jerking in and out may also be low trans fluid or a dirty trans filter. lots of possibilities. Get with a friend that messes with cars and see if he may have some suggestions.
This doesn't sound bad just yet.
Also, the gear selection may be a bad shifter cable. Thr jerking in and out may also be low trans fluid or a dirty trans filter. lots of possibilities. Get with a friend that messes with cars and see if he may have some suggestions.
This doesn't sound bad just yet.
Check the plugs, wires, cap and rotor first.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Newbury Park Ca
I am not sure. When I was driving it, it was in overdrive (how I always drive it) but I will try it in regular drive and post how that goes on here.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Newbury Park Ca
sounds like a bad set of plug wires or a cracked dist. cap or the plugs finally gave out or the egr valve stuck partially open.
Also, the gear selection may be a bad shifter cable. Thr jerking in and out may also be low trans fluid or a dirty trans filter. lots of possibilities. Get with a friend that messes with cars and see if he may have some suggestions.
This doesn't sound bad just yet.
Also, the gear selection may be a bad shifter cable. Thr jerking in and out may also be low trans fluid or a dirty trans filter. lots of possibilities. Get with a friend that messes with cars and see if he may have some suggestions.
This doesn't sound bad just yet.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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I thought about the fluid levels but it looked ok (I last checked right after I got home so it was still hot. I'm going to check it again this evening now that its had time to cool off). I will try to check the plug wires and distributor cap tonight. Any tips on checking the EGR valve, plugs, and filter?
Checking for bad wires is simple. Just open the hood at night or in a darkened garage, start the engine and remove the hood lamp fuse. Look closely at the coil and spark plug wires for arcing, electrical creepy crawlies, etc...
If you see 'em, you've got bad wires. If the wires are suspect, odds are it's time to do the plugs, too, especially if you know for a fact they haven't been changed recently.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Newbury Park Ca
Well I sure feel like a goof. Went down to the local autoparts store, bought some new transmission fluid, poured it in and it started right up with no problems. :o
I am going to take it to a shop now to get its fluid changed, new filter and re-sealed but I wanted to thank you all for your responses. I do feel silly lol. At least i'm back to happy-corvetting
I am going to take it to a shop now to get its fluid changed, new filter and re-sealed but I wanted to thank you all for your responses. I do feel silly lol. At least i'm back to happy-corvetting
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 220
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From: Newbury Park Ca
Definitely will do. Just wanted to share for now about how much of a goof I felt like for freaking out like that. : )
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
did the shops pay for the transmissions after they were ruined? My dad just had the transmission on his van flushed and I'm worried its going to fail, because he will take it to the shop and hit them with cro-bar.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
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That trans is to old too mess with. Run the current fluid and keep it topped off.
Save your money and then have it rebuilt.
If you change your fluid, it will be a crap shoot!
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Jun 11, 2009 at 11:24 AM.