C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

89 Vette problems Please Help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 01:33 PM
  #1  
buzzmaniandevil's Avatar
buzzmaniandevil
Thread Starter
4th Gear
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Default 89 Vette problems Please Help

Hello, I am a first time vette owner and I am having a few issues that I need help with. First off, here is what happened. My car overheated and blew the side off of the radiator. After it cooled off I had to get the car home so I drove it about 10 miles to my house to put in the garage and it was a cool night and there were no stops all the way home. The car never shut off on me but when I backed it in the valves started chattering and I shut it off. I noticed the fan never came on so I rerouted to use a toggle switch manually to turn the fan on. My gauge cluster does not work so I did not even know it was running hot until I blew the radiator. With the new part in and filled with fluid I tried to start and the motor just turns over but it will not fire to try to start. My service screen in the center works and it shows the service engine light and the little battery light in the bottom corner which has never come on. Could this be a battery problem or where should I start? I ran it hot to get it home so I hope this is not why I can not get it started. Thank you to anybody that can give me some suggestions.
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 01:37 PM
  #2  
Daniel_Mc's Avatar
Daniel_Mc
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 70
From: Pineville Louisiana
Default

Is the car smoking? Have you checked the oil to see if you had coolant in the oil?

Daniel
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 01:55 PM
  #3  
buzzmaniandevil's Avatar
buzzmaniandevil
Thread Starter
4th Gear
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Default

The car was not smoking and I had someone following me home in it. I checked the oil and it is a little dark but there is nothing in it but oil. I put a set of jumper cables on it and it still did the same thing. It would turn over fine but not start.
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 03:21 PM
  #4  
AGENT 86's Avatar
AGENT 86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,315
Likes: 245
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Default

Is there spark at plugs ?

Do you have a noid light ?

Do you have a fuel pressure gauge ?
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 06:28 PM
  #5  
pmihaltian's Avatar
pmihaltian
Slingshot
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Default

Originally Posted by buzzmaniandevil
Hello, I am a first time vette owner and I am having a few issues that I need help with. First off, here is what happened. My car overheated and blew the side off of the radiator. After it cooled off I had to get the car home so I drove it about 10 miles to my house.
You drove your overheated Corvette with no water in the cooling system for 10 miles?
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 07:38 PM
  #6  
John A. Marker's Avatar
John A. Marker
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Default

Pull the codes stored in the computer as a start. Agent86...check for spark....check for fuel.
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 08:00 PM
  #7  
pkazsr's Avatar
pkazsr
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 2
From: No HOA, New Hampshire
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Default

Originally Posted by pmihaltian
You drove your overheated Corvette with no water in the cooling system for 10 miles?
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 08:23 PM
  #8  
buzzmaniandevil's Avatar
buzzmaniandevil
Thread Starter
4th Gear
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Default

Yes I did, I would rather have to rebuild the motor than leave my beautiful corvette on the side of the road. I asked for help not insults. If you had a nice vette you wouldnt leave it sitting either and you would do what you had to. I just need help fixing it
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 08:31 PM
  #9  
buzzmaniandevil's Avatar
buzzmaniandevil
Thread Starter
4th Gear
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Default

I am getting fuel at the fuel rail. It just turns over normal, not fast but like it would before it starts but it doesnt start. I checked the plug wire with a screw driver but no spark so if the overheating was the problem how does the coil or my fire just go out like that? If i am getting no fire from the plug wire then what am i looking at?
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2011 | 08:36 PM
  #10  
John A. Marker's Avatar
John A. Marker
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Default

I you blew out the side of the radiator...you have coolant thrown about the engine. That much coolant in the engine compartment may have shorted out something......Check the distributor cap....any moisture. Are you getting electricity to the red wire on the distributor?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 89 Vette problems Please Help





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:40 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE