'85 Corvette won't keep running
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
'85 Corvette won't keep running
I have an ‘85 Corvette and can’t figure out why it won’t keep running. It died on me in a parking lot, I
towed it home, and disconnected the battery. About a week later, I connected the battery and it fired, but only for a couple of minutes at idle. I can keep disconnecting the battery, letting it sit for a couple of hours, and I’ll usually always get it to start, but again for only a couple of minutes. It’ll run a bit longer when I keep my foot in it. My Auto X-ray gives me no codes at idle, but will randomly give me a Code “54” when my foot is in it, which is a fuel pump relay failure. I tried the easy fix and replaced the relay and it made no difference. The fuel pressure regulator and oxygen sensor were replaced 6 months prior and I’m getting good fuel pressure both when it’s running and when it’s not. It is almost as though it is an electrical/sensor problem. I also seem to be getting good spark and good oil pressure. I have had trouble getting it through DEQ the last few years only to hire a cheap quick fixer to get it to pass, but no DEQ repairs have been done to it. I believe it needs new catalytic converters but don’t believe this has anything to do with why it won‘t keep running. I never had any problems after the quick DEQ fixes. Has anyone experienced this or know what the problem may be? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
towed it home, and disconnected the battery. About a week later, I connected the battery and it fired, but only for a couple of minutes at idle. I can keep disconnecting the battery, letting it sit for a couple of hours, and I’ll usually always get it to start, but again for only a couple of minutes. It’ll run a bit longer when I keep my foot in it. My Auto X-ray gives me no codes at idle, but will randomly give me a Code “54” when my foot is in it, which is a fuel pump relay failure. I tried the easy fix and replaced the relay and it made no difference. The fuel pressure regulator and oxygen sensor were replaced 6 months prior and I’m getting good fuel pressure both when it’s running and when it’s not. It is almost as though it is an electrical/sensor problem. I also seem to be getting good spark and good oil pressure. I have had trouble getting it through DEQ the last few years only to hire a cheap quick fixer to get it to pass, but no DEQ repairs have been done to it. I believe it needs new catalytic converters but don’t believe this has anything to do with why it won‘t keep running. I never had any problems after the quick DEQ fixes. Has anyone experienced this or know what the problem may be? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
If your converter is clogged, your car will do what it is doing. A clogged cat will completely smother a car to the point of death, if you know what I mean (it won't run - either well or at all).
I'm not saying your cat is clogged. You could be experiencing these problems for a variety of different reasons. You could have a bad fuel pump, bad injector(s), filthy throttle body, bad IAC.
I'm not saying your cat is clogged. You could be experiencing these problems for a variety of different reasons. You could have a bad fuel pump, bad injector(s), filthy throttle body, bad IAC.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,387
Likes: 534
Originally Posted by 85 500 horse
If your converter is clogged, your car will do what it is doing. A clogged cat will completely smother a car to the point of death, if you know what I mean (it won't run - either well or at all).
I'm not saying your cat is clogged. You could be experiencing these problems for a variety of different reasons. You could have a bad fuel pump, bad injector(s), filthy throttle body, bad IAC.
I'm not saying your cat is clogged. You could be experiencing these problems for a variety of different reasons. You could have a bad fuel pump, bad injector(s), filthy throttle body, bad IAC.
Also a good place to check is the alternator. My 85' did the exact same thing yours did before she bought the farm for good back in 02'. Turns out the culprit was the alternator which was completely shot. Take your alternator off and bring it to the local autoparts store and they should be able to perform a test on it to see if it's still worth while.
