C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

85 corvette injectors won’t fire

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 01:04 PM
  #1  
Beyond Budget's Avatar
Beyond Budget
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
From: Flint Michigan
Default 85 corvette injectors won’t fire

I have a 85 all stock. The car ran great, but needed head gaskets replaced. Got everything put back together and now the car won’t start. I have spark, fuel pressure in the rails but the injectors don’t seem to be firing fuel into the chamber. I tried a bit of started fluid and she sputtered a bit. When I turn the key off, there is a clunking noise from the passenger side. Any ideas?
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 01:16 PM
  #2  
Pwnage1337's Avatar
Pwnage1337
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
Default

I think VATS disables the injector circuit. Check fuses first then I'd suspect VATS
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 02:01 PM
  #3  
Beyond Budget's Avatar
Beyond Budget
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
From: Flint Michigan
Default Vats

VATS? Is that a security system? If so, how do I correct it
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 04:25 PM
  #4  
Mixednuttz's Avatar
Mixednuttz
Pro
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 733
Likes: 424
From: Wisconsin
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Winner - Modified
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Default

85 doesn't have VATS.

Have you checked all if the fuses?
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 05:53 PM
  #5  
Pwnage1337's Avatar
Pwnage1337
Tech Contributor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
Default

I believe there is a theft deterrent system on 85, my car will set the horns off and **** if you do some magic sequence of locking the door and closing it then trying to open it right away or something like that. Not sure if it had any shutoff to the engine tho
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 07:14 PM
  #6  
VikingTrad3r's Avatar
VikingTrad3r
Oil Producer
Supporting Gold
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,378
Likes: 2,739
Default

is your tach wire (labelled tach on dizzy) attached? and if you follow it back there should be a plug in on the harness. likely behind the driverside head.

Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 07:37 PM
  #7  
xrav22's Avatar
xrav22
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 239
From: Venice Cali.
Default

Check your ground that comes out of the loom by #1 injector and also check your oil pressure switches are connected behind Distributor.
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 07:38 PM
  #8  
FOURSPEEDVETTE's Avatar
FOURSPEEDVETTE
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
Default

Originally Posted by Pwnage1337
I believe there is a theft deterrent system on 85, my car will set the horns off and **** if you do some magic sequence of locking the door and closing it then trying to open it right away or something like that. Not sure if it had any shutoff to the engine tho

The theft deterrent system on an 85 won't even allow the engine to crank until you disarm it with the keys, or you wait something like 15 minutes for it to reset. It's a goofy system, but it WILL stop someone trying to take it quickly.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

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

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 07:51 PM
  #9  
xrav22's Avatar
xrav22
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 239
From: Venice Cali.
Default

It is not anything to do with theft bacause the alarm would be sounding, the horn beeps full loud.
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 09:26 PM
  #10  
corvetteronw's Avatar
corvetteronw
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Default

Purchase a Noid light set at Auto Zone or other auto parts store. They give you most of your money back when you remove them. The light will glow on the tester when the injector pulses.
Here is the L98 starting sequence to help you diagnose your problem: http://corvettebuyers.com/c4vettes/l98.htm
Noid light video:
Reply
Old Nov 30, 2019 | 09:28 PM
  #11  
corvetteronw's Avatar
corvetteronw
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Default

The best advice I ever got here was to diagnose first before replacing parts on a hunch.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2019 | 03:14 PM
  #12  
Beyond Budget's Avatar
Beyond Budget
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
From: Flint Michigan
Default So far....

- Pulled spark plugs, no fuel coming out of cylinders.
- noid tested injector harness. Not lighting up
- tach wire seems to be connected(to distributor) I believe and is registering to the dash 100 rpm when starting.
- Ground wire near left bank front seems correct as I added an additional temporary ground line to the header.
- oil pressure sending unit seems to be right. 1 red wire connects to it as far as I can see. Oil psi reading out on dash as I turn it over.
- fuel pressure checked during cranking. adjusted pressure regulator 35-50 psi with no change other than pitch of clunking in the fuel system.
- clunking when turning key off is in the fuel system as it registers on the fuel pressure gauge.

Last edited by Beyond Budget; Dec 1, 2019 at 03:14 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2019 | 05:08 PM
  #13  
Mixednuttz's Avatar
Mixednuttz
Pro
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 733
Likes: 424
From: Wisconsin
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Winner - Modified
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Default

Have you checked the fuses? I'd have to check my FSM, but I am almost certain that there are two fuses that feed the positive side of the injectors. I believe they are INJ1 and INJ2.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2019 | 05:38 PM
  #14  
Beyond Budget's Avatar
Beyond Budget
Thread Starter
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
From: Flint Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by Mixednuttz
Have you checked the fuses? I'd have to check my FSM, but I am almost certain that there are two fuses that feed the positive side of the injectors. I believe they are INJ1 and INJ2.
Yes, they both look good.
The injectors not pulsing and the clunking sound in the fuel system are the only anomalies I can find
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2019 | 06:25 PM
  #15  
VikingTrad3r's Avatar
VikingTrad3r
Oil Producer
Supporting Gold
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,378
Likes: 2,739
Default

Originally Posted by Beyond Budget
Yes, they both look good.
The injectors not pulsing and the clunking sound in the fuel system are the only anomalies I can find
what clunking?

can u capture it snd upload to youtube and link us.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2019 | 08:51 PM
  #16  
xrav22's Avatar
xrav22
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 239
From: Venice Cali.
Default

You checked the oil sender orange wire but what about the other sender it is to check oil pressure and if engine dies it cuts off injectors. Some disagree but make sure it is good and connected.
Good Luck
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2019 | 08:54 PM
  #17  
Mixednuttz's Avatar
Mixednuttz
Pro
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 733
Likes: 424
From: Wisconsin
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Winner - Modified
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Default

Originally Posted by xrav22
You checked the oil sender orange wire but what about the other sender it is to check oil pressure and if engine dies it cuts off injectors. Some disagree but make sure it is good and connected.
Good Luck
one wire goes to the pressure gauge, the other the fuel pump. The ECM doesn't know what the oil pressure is.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 85 corvette injectors won’t fire

Old Dec 1, 2019 | 09:05 PM
  #18  
xrav22's Avatar
xrav22
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 239
From: Venice Cali.
Default

Ok the pump not injectors, so his injectors are shorted out because if the worked before they didn't break, a wire must be misconnected
I will upload a diagram from the manual if you need it.
Good Luck

Last edited by xrav22; Dec 1, 2019 at 09:42 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2019 | 09:11 PM
  #19  
Mixednuttz's Avatar
Mixednuttz
Pro
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 733
Likes: 424
From: Wisconsin
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Winner - Modified
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Default

Originally Posted by xrav22
Ok the pump not injectors, so his injectors are shorted out because if the worked before they didn't break a wire must be misconnected
I will upload a diagram from the manual if you need it.
Good Luck
That's why I was asking if his fuel injector fuses were good. The injectors have +12V when the key is turned to the run or start positions, the ECM grounds them to fire them.

OP: You could see if theres 12V at the injector with the key in run. If memory serves me, it's the pink wire on the injectors.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2019 | 09:31 PM
  #20  
TommyFox's Avatar
TommyFox
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 385
From: Leland , North Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by corvetteronw
The best advice I ever got here was to diagnose first before replacing parts on a hunch.
And it ran fine before it was messed with, you messed up something in the process and not a part failing......of course there is always an exception to this rule
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:25 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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