I started the vette this morning and the engine idle would sound fine but then immediately slow lower and lower if I took my foot off the gas pedal. I could drive it as long as my foot was on the gas, but if I'd let it off, the car would lower in volts considerably and engine would stall or kill. Is this the starter or alternator or something else? I checked the batt cables and they seem tight and ok. Thanks in advance. :confused:

 

Take the alternator off and have it tested. Then check/clean IAC and TB. Only other thing i can think of is a bad MAF but you dont have one.


[Modified by vader86, 12:58 PM 10/19/2003]

 

Try the battery cables first. Get an 8mm socket and remove the bolts, then wire brush the battery recepticles and the battery bolts. If they are badly corroded wash them in a water/baking soda solution.
Charge the battery and reattach the cables. It should be as good as new.
Mark

 

I have had my car running down to around 9 volts...at which point it did die. But I would check for a bad fuel pump, or a vaccum leak on the TB or manifold. I had the vacuum hose on the manifold (drivers side, front of engine, by injector rail) come off, and the car would barely idle, it died often, and I couldnt get it to charge for anything when the roms were so low.

 

I was thinking it might be the fuel injectors or oxygen sensor or something since everything works fine until I let off of the gas completely. It may also be the fuel pump? My stepdad said try putting some more fuel injector cleaner or something.........could it be a failing oxygen sensor? Man there's so many possibilities I'm just afraid I'm thinkin its so complex when it might be something so simple. I'm gonna take it to my mechanic tuesday and see what he says.

 

well it doesnt sound like an O2 sensor or injectors, not from that description

your gas mileage shouldve turned south long before this if it was

 

Interesting...I still don't know what it is for sure. I can drive the car no probs...for the first 5 min or so after ignition, I have to keep the foot slightly on the gas or idle will go to nothing(fades out, but doesn't get rough), but idle isn't catchy or rough at all...it sounds perfect when the foot's on the gas. After I've been driving for a while I can take the foot off the gas and still have the car run fine. I was thinking it may be that the IAC module/valve may just need to be cleaned again. Wonder if I'll need a new IAC motor soon. My mechanic said this was the prob with an idle a long time ago. And it worked to fix it(cleaning the IAC valve from dust particles or something). Other than that, everything runs perfectly....hasn't run better...even at 90 plus mph.

 

My '85 had a problem like you are describing. The simple free fix was to clean the battery connections and give the battery a full charge. This routine maintenance also cleared up blinking dash panel. LOL

 

I would think it's the battery cables, but whenever the car would stall....all the lights and equip including stereo(on full blast or very near it mind you:)) would still be going without a single blink or interruption at full power. And since the engine was stopped, what was powering it had to be the batt since the alternator wouldn't be going. That would mean the batt should be ok. I think it's the IAC valve that just needs a little fine-tooth cleaning. But then again it could never hurt to clean the cables. I just did it like three months ago. The vette's never been running better though as long as I keep the foot on the gas....so it's kinda wierd. Since the "problem" her acceleration above 60 mph has been noticeably faster aswell as the off-the-line time just slightly. But it's only something an owner could tell. Someone did once tell me that you could reset the Idle or settings of a car by going in reverse and hitting the brakes many times. Ironically this is indeed what I did during the past week to get rid of some brake dust causing a small squeak in the shoes when they hit the calipers. Makes me wonder..... :confused:


[Modified by MaSTeRofDZaSTeR, 2:06 AM 10/23/2003]