C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

Help Stranded

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 11, 2018 | 11:35 AM
  #1  
Gatorlaw's Avatar
Gatorlaw
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 144
Likes: 13
Default Help Stranded

I drove to work this morning and everything was fine. I went out at lunch to run for a quick trip and the car wouldn't start. It turns but won't start. I have recently replaced the fuel pump and filter (about a year ago). All I know is its friday and unless I can come up with an easy fix, looks like I'll be waiting on a tow as I have no tools here...
Reply
Old May 11, 2018 | 11:44 AM
  #2  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

I wonder what year car this is?


If I were you, I'd be checking for spark, and checking if the fuel pump is running @ "key on".
Reply
Old May 11, 2018 | 11:53 AM
  #3  
Gatorlaw's Avatar
Gatorlaw
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 144
Likes: 13
Default

Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
I wonder what year car this is?


If I were you, I'd be checking for spark, and checking if the fuel pump is running @ "key on".

It's an 88 C4. I can hear the fuel pump when I turn the key. I wait until it cycles then try.
Reply
Old May 11, 2018 | 12:07 PM
  #4  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

Check for spark.
Reply
Old May 11, 2018 | 12:08 PM
  #5  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

Check your "inj" fuses. It's pretty unlikely that they'd both blow, but...it''s easy to check 'em.
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 08:32 AM
  #6  
Gatorlaw's Avatar
Gatorlaw
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 144
Likes: 13
Default

So i came out after work and she fired right up and ran great. Now I’m really confused.
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 09:03 AM
  #7  
84 4+3's Avatar
84 4+3
Le Mans Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
Default

Factory injectors?
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 09:30 AM
  #8  
pologreen1's Avatar
pologreen1
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
Default

Originally Posted by Gatorlaw
So i came out after work and she fired right up and ran great. Now I’m really confused.
maybe look in to vats issues.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old May 12, 2018 | 10:24 AM
  #9  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

Originally Posted by pologreen1
maybe look in to vats issues.
Originally Posted by Gatorlaw
I went out at lunch to run for a quick trip and the car wouldn't start. It turns but won't start.
Probably not VATS.
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 12:14 PM
  #10  
mickey5's Avatar
mickey5
Drifting
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 144
From: on Barnegat Bay Joisey
Default

My '90 did exactly the same thing as the OP several years ago. Drove it about an hour with no problem; shut it off and little later it wouldn't start. Left it for several hours and it started right up. Turned out to be a heat soak problem and failing injectors
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 12:26 PM
  #11  
confab's Avatar
confab
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 336
From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
Default

Ign module?
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 01:12 PM
  #12  
Gatorlaw's Avatar
Gatorlaw
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 144
Likes: 13
Default

Started right up this morning. Ran to the store, come out fired right up again. Drove to another store ran in came out the car fired up then started missing. Tried to restart, nada. Gave it a minute, fired right up and ran strong all the way home.

this is perplexing to say the least. Don’t want to toss cash at an unknown but I’m sure this is a preview of coming attractions...

Last edited by Gatorlaw; May 12, 2018 at 01:13 PM.
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 01:18 PM
  #13  
mickey5's Avatar
mickey5
Drifting
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 144
From: on Barnegat Bay Joisey
Default

It will only get worse. Call Jon at FIC and get a new set of injectors ASAP.

Also if you get stranded let the engine cool for an hour or so and if it starts right up high tail it for home. Mine was good for 15 minutes or so before the missing started.
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 01:42 PM
  #14  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

Originally Posted by Gatorlaw
this is perplexing to say the least. Don’t want to toss cash at an unknown but I’m sure this is a preview of coming attractions...
It all depends on how you'd like to proceed; you can pick one of the WAG's presented thus far, and throw parts at it, or you can test and prove what the problem is and replace just that part. When the symptom occurs, what's missing; spark or fuel?
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 02:24 PM
  #15  
confab's Avatar
confab
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 336
From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
Default

Play with it in the driveway a little and try to duplicate the condition with a gauge on it and a spark tester in your hand?

Because eventually, it will probably come back on a wrecker. I don't know what a tow costs there, but here it's crazy high. High enough to pay for a FP gauge and a spark tester.
Reply
Old May 12, 2018 | 05:15 PM
  #16  
Gatorlaw's Avatar
Gatorlaw
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 144
Likes: 13
Default

So I go out and fire up the car, don’t hear anything odd. Figure i need some testing so i close the hood bump the door and the drivers door closes while the engine is still running. No problem, go inside to get the spare and they are not there They are with my daughter a hundred miles away. So i call AAA and request a locksmith. While I’m waiting I’m trying everything I can with the coat hanger. Watching the temp gauge debating whether I’ll have to break he window to save the engine. It took me an hour and change but i was able to get the window down just as the locksmith pulled up. Well at least the cooling system is good....
Reply
Old May 13, 2018 | 02:12 AM
  #17  
VikingTrad3r's Avatar
VikingTrad3r
Oil Producer
Supporting Gold
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,367
Likes: 2,735
Default

you would have to have more than one injector failed. I don't think that's very likely. Not for it to happen at the same time. More likely is the ignition control module or some kind of wiring issue with the injectors.

Reply
Old May 13, 2018 | 11:52 AM
  #18  
esham's Avatar
esham
Pro
Supporting Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 541
Likes: 60
From: Auburndale Florida 1990 Vert, 6 speed
Default Ecm?

Could also be the ECM. My 90 did the same thing. Only happened once the car was warmed up.
Reply
Old May 13, 2018 | 02:08 PM
  #19  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

Originally Posted by Gatorlaw
So I go out and fire up the car, don’t hear anything odd. Figure i need some testing so i close the hood bump the door and the drivers door closes while the engine is still running. No problem, go inside to get the spare and they are not there They are with my daughter a hundred miles away. So i call AAA and request a locksmith. While I’m waiting I’m trying everything I can with the coat hanger. Watching the temp gauge debating whether I’ll have to break he window to save the engine. It took me an hour and change but i was able to get the window down just as the locksmith pulled up. Well at least the cooling system is good....
Sounds like a tough day.

We still gotta confirm spark or fuel though.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Help Stranded





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:57 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE