one little vacum line can throw off everything.
Help! Engine stuck in high rev
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
Help! Engine stuck in high rev
I bought my first vette, an '85, a month ago. Today I was out driving and as I pulled into my neighborhood I noticed that my brake pedal was hard and the car wasn't stopping on command. As it finally slowed down I noticed that the engine was still reving up as if I had the gas pedal floored. I put it in park and turned off the engine, and when I turn it back on it goes right back to high rev.
Any ideas? I'm brand new to car maintenance, and have no idea what is causing this or how to fix it!
Thanks!
Any ideas? I'm brand new to car maintenance, and have no idea what is causing this or how to fix it!
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
check for vacuum leaks first thing
Go into the engine bay and see if notice any cracked or broken hoses or anwhere there is a gasket. it's an air sucking sound.
That's the foirst place to start
Go into the engine bay and see if notice any cracked or broken hoses or anwhere there is a gasket. it's an air sucking sound.
That's the foirst place to start
Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; Mar 17, 2010 at 05:29 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 286
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From: Brooks GA
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Check all these things and then it's time to look at the IAC and TPS. (idle air control, Throttle position sensor)
And if you do not have one, get a Factory Service Manual.
And if you do not have one, get a Factory Service Manual.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
Lol... jrzvette, I actually thought that very thing after I got it stopped! Thanks, everyone for your input. I will check each of the things mentioned. As I said, I'm new to working on cars - when I check these vacuum hoses am I just looking for cracks or broken ones? Thanksf!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
You're looking and listening for leaks. Cracks, lines that may have worked loose. Start with that brake booster the guys mentioned. If you were out cruising that may very well be where it is if it's a vacuum leak.
Listen for the sound of a high pitch whistle. (that's the best way I can describe it) It's like a sucking sound
Listen for the sound of a high pitch whistle. (that's the best way I can describe it) It's like a sucking sound
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I think the problem is in Vaccum hosing.
BMW Exhaust
BMW Exhaust
Last edited by katte; Mar 18, 2010 at 03:35 PM.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth Texas
Fixed it!
Thank you all so much for your help. I was looking for the vacuum hose on the brake booster you all mentioned and I noticed another smaller "hose" that was loose. I think it's actually a cable, not a hose. It runs from the cruise control on top of the battery toward the engine. Once I attached it and tightened it the idle went back down to normal. Anyone know what cable/hose this would be?
Again thank you - I'm new to working on cars and had no idea where to start.
Again thank you - I'm new to working on cars and had no idea where to start.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
If you knew that was the cruise control, you are getting car maint
figured out REAL FAST.
However, the cruise control cable being disconnected should not cause
a fast idle. You sure it wasn't the throttle cable? On my '87 they
cross over each other, and it would be real easy to mis-trace them.
The cruise cable connects a bit farther towards the US driver's side
than the throttle cable. Dunno about '85s.
Chuck
figured out REAL FAST.
However, the cruise control cable being disconnected should not cause
a fast idle. You sure it wasn't the throttle cable? On my '87 they
cross over each other, and it would be real easy to mis-trace them.
The cruise cable connects a bit farther towards the US driver's side
than the throttle cable. Dunno about '85s.
Chuck
