mazdaverx7

It has 116k on it.

Replaced the belt tonight and the coolant temp sender under the throttle body. No change in the non working gauge though I believe after some reading that the sender for the gauge is on the right side cylinder head.

Coolant line burst tonight so no more running the car for diagnosis until I get a hose to replace it.

Cjunkie

Not bad on the miles. What coolant line let go on you?

xrav22

The gauge is on the left(drivers) between 1-3.

mazdaverx7

The coolant line that let go was the U shaped hose under the throttle body. I think I accelerated the degradation process when I had it off to do the coolant temp sender..the wrong sender, lol. But a learning process none the less.

I see a sender on the right side of the engine between the 6 and 8 cylinder. I was thinking that was the coolant temp sender for the gauge. Maybe its the fan switch. I'll look for the sender between the 1 and 3 cylinder tomorrow after work and I'll get one on order.

Cjunkie

ok I was curious thinking it should be something I should look at as well. that was one of the hoses I changed last month when I went through the cooling system.

mazdaverx7

I bought the car knowing it was on its way out and that helped the bargaining some. I'm going to get one on order today and see if I can get it today or tomorrow from a local parts store and install it and flush the coolant while I'm at it.

1bdvet

Enjoy your new ride!

Cjunkie

I got mine from Autozone. I think it was like $9.
Good job using it in the negotiation.

corvette_realtor

Nice looking '86! I like the exterior color a lot. Bought at a nice price, but sounds like you have some work ahead of you. Have fun

hcbph

[QUOTE=mazdaverx7;1594589854]Checked the plugs and they looked ok. Going to replace them anyways. Found one bad plug wire and taped it until I can get to the parts store today for a new wire set.
[QUOTE]

I found the plug wires on mine had touched air injector tube on both sides, burning a couple of the plug wires. When the wires were replaced I got some heat wrap for that tube and some heat sleeves for the ends of the plug wires to cover where they came close. Being a complete set of assembled plug wires was used, I didn't want to remove the ends to get the sleeves on so I used a pair of wire cutters and snipped the rings in the sleeves so they'd slide over the ends of the plug wires.

Anything you can do to keep the wires off hot things is good, this was my solution.

Good luck.

mazdaverx7

Got home from work last night and got to work on the car. Picked up a new coolant temp sender, a new cap and rotor, and a new throttle body heater hose. Took a few pics to share before I start in on the work:







i started in by replacing the throttle body heater hose. Went quick and easy and I Was off to a good start. Then I removed the old coolant temp sender and replaced it and that's when things went bad. The sender threaded into head between the 6 and 8 spark plugs. I plugged the wire into the sender, which was the same one that came off of the sender. Green coated single wire with a female spade connector. Engine was running and then the sender exploded into a ball of fire and blew the center out.

I did some digging and it appears that the green wire I hooked up to the sender also runs to the starter. This tells me that there was power going to that sender. I don't know if I messed something up or if the previous owner had something routed improperly. I'm going to remove the starter today and check and clean the oil and coolant off of the wiring and get a better look at what's going on. I pulled the wire through the bottom of the engine so that could get a better look at it and was able to get a pic to share:



Also, I did discover some good news in all of this. It would appear the car has a reman engine. The engine looks pretty fresh. There's no telling the mileage of course but the block is still clean other than some dirt spray. Its still painted and the expansion plugs are still cad plated. The engine feels very strong despite it breaking up. So, while its not the original engine, at least I know its been gone over and at least the block is strong.. Here's a couple pics of what I found:

WVZR-1

I've seen the location of the TEMP GAUGE SENDER debated before for an '86. I believe that's one of the potential errors in the FSM. I don't recall seeing a revision or a supplement that corrected the location or mentioned changes.

What is in the left cylinder head between 1 & 3?

I see no RPO that would hint an AUX FAN so regardless of where, there should only be one. The GREEN wire is appropriate for the TEMP sender and if it were in the right cylinder head it would be routed in the conduit near the starter.

Cjunkie

A reman engine is a nice find.

mazdaverx7

There's nothing in the head between the 1 and 3 spark plugs. I'll post a pic this afternoon. The only sender I saw was the one in between the number 6 and 8 spark plugs. It was plugged in but the gauge only reads "LO" and I believe this is part of the reason that my overdrive unit doesn't power on. I figure with the coolant temp sender faulty or the wiring bad it will lock out the overdrive due to the fact that the coolant isn't up to operating temp. Nothing happens when I engage overdrive but I do have all forward gears and reverse.

WVZR-1

That sender does the GAUGE only and has absolutely no control over any of devices.

mazdaverx7

Good to know. I'll have to dig into why the overdrive unit does not function. The switch built into the shifter does absolutely nothing. Mechanically I think its ok as I know if the overdrive unit has failed there will typically be no reverse. I have reverse so I think it may be an electronic issue.

VikingTrad3r

google radioshack 4+3 shift switch


there is a part number out there to replace the button switch if that is what failed.

VikingTrad3r

btw. arnt u happy that u didnt pick this up: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c4-general-discussion/3971646-restoration-opinions.html#post1594502760

mazdaverx7

I'll check the switch out that you mentioned. Are they a common failure point? I'm glad I didn't buy that $1600 85. I am however buying parts off of it and may buy what's left that my buddy doesn't use and turn it into an autocross car..

Dt86

This is correct. The green wire comes from the harness by the starter and goes to the temp sensor.