When driving all is well... stop and idle for a minute or two and the Service Engine Soon light comes on. Shut her off, restart, it goes away until you idle it again. It kind of sounds like a fan is kicking on, the lights dimm very slightly, I hear what may be a fan kicking on and then the Service Engine Soon light shines bright in the night with a touch of ruff idle... She acts like she wants to die but doesn't.

I'm certain I have made a coupe of mistakes and now know to check here before I even think about touching my recently acquired stock 92 LT1 coupe.

First, I washed the engine. I didn't get crazy but non-the-less I may have gotten the Opti wet. Newbie screw up... I've already whipped myself with freshly cooked Top Ramon noodles.

Second, the miles to go indicated I had 70 miles left but ran out of gas. I live in the country and this was Turkey Day night 2AM, nothing was open and I was in the middle of no where. I had to put gas in it from our ranch which is not high octane, 87 oct. It was either that or leave it on the side of the road.

Third, the car had 65k when purchased and had been stored, driven twice in almost three years.

My questions:

If I got the Opti wet, would it cause this?

Did putting the 87 octane in her do this and will it go away when I run this gas out and replace with high octane?

Running out of gas like that, is the gauge off or do I have some bad gas in the tank from being stored and did hitting the possibly bad gas at the bottom of the tank cause this?

Any advice on where to start would be greatly appreciated as I am trying not to panick for my Class of 92 sweetheart.

Rich

 

1.) Possibly.

2.) The 87 octane did not cause the problem.

3.) Possibly.

4.) Start by checking what codes were set when the S.E.S. light came on. Then trouble shoot each code, appropriately.

RACE ON!!!

 

Very likely the Opti got wet, but you must pull the codes before spending any money.

The octane didnt cause it, but bad gas has similar symptoms. The fact that you threw a code tells me that its unlikely.

 

Thanks guys, I pprecite the point in the right directin...

 

Running 87 in a LT1 is not the best thing to do it leads to lotsa knocks.It could be part of the trouble first thing is put some good gas in it.The estimate is just that not a guarrenty.Never let your car go below 1/4 and you won't have trouble and won't burn up your fuel pump.
Don't jump on the opti bandwagon just yet.Your wires might be arcing or any number of things.Post the codes for more help.

 

I agree, I would not have put the gas in but had no choice. I did not think about the fuel pump, thanks. It's a 70 mile round trip to a gas station so getting caught low is bound to happen again. So I've called the gas company and switched our ranch to 94 octane. Then I won't leave unless I'm topped off and the rest of the vehicles will love it. Once I figure out how to get my codes I will post them. It sounds like the procedure is in the Helm manual which I plan on getting but will have to wait until after Christmas expenses. I've been searching the site to see if it's posted but have not found it yet, might be using the wrong keywords. The car is an early birthday/Christmas present from the wife and kids, I've driven it maybe 6 times. So we are all kinda bummed, especially if I caused it out of ignorance water or gas. I've driven it maybe 6 times.

Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

Maybe some one will jump in with a link to procedures from the Helms on how to jump the ALDL and read the code(s). If you email me I will send you the entire procedures along with pics and codes etc. I've got it down loaded on Acobat Reader.
I agree that read the codes FIRST before doing anything.
Good luck.

 

I have had the engine light go on before when I have put low octane gas in her before . I bought the car new and have always used 94 octane from Sunoco since I took delivery of the car . Unfortunately one day I was not paying attention at the gas station and the gas dude , ( we are not allowed to pump our own gas here in New Jersey ) filled the tank with 87 octane low and behold a few miles down the road the light came on . So I don't care what anybody says my car hates the low octane crap . Maybe it just got used to the high octane ...JMHO ...good luck

 

Sounds like a knock sensor to me. This also turns on the fans as a safety precaution since a knock generally indicates high temp condition. (predetonation). The engine may smooth out while higher in the rpms but at idle it senses a problem. This knock or vibration could be caused by the 87 octane. I'd almost put money on it.

 

Are you saying that the gas in the car was three years old? It's a little late to say this but if the car had been sitting for three years one of the first things you should have done is empty the tank and refill it(along with changeing all of the other fluids). If you drove the car home after three years of storage without putting fresh gas in the car it could cause problems. Once you put new gas in the tank the old stuff would have mixed with it, not sit on the bottom of the tank.

 

So the SES light is on. That's very interesting, but what code did it set?

I'm completely bummfuzzled that out of all these comments, no one asked for the code(s.)

Give us the code and then we can approach the problem scientifically instead of all this conjecture.

Have a great day,

 

I'm interested in this as well because my 93 Coupe does a similar thing. If you let it sit idling for a few minutes it will light up the SES. It goes off when you shut down and restart it. I've only had it for a month and have ran 3 tanks of 93 octane through it. The engine is VERY clean though so I'm pretty sure the dealer cleaned it and probably didn't know about keeping the opti dry.

I'll try to get my codes as well.

Ron

 

Post number 2, Doc.RACE ON!!!

 

Sorry 'bout that CFI. I have a bad habit of perusing threads quickly and just flat missed it. I guess I was scanning for the code rather than the question asking for the code. Someday, one of you guys will hand me my head.

Did he ever give us the code? If he did then I am REALLY perusing too fast.

Have a great day,

 

Let me see if I understand you correctly. You want ME to go back and reread each and every thread and report back to YOU what *I* already know? To what purpose? Why should I expect you will read that thread, or even this one, any better than you read my first??? Would you like your feet rubbed, too, Sahib?

"I'm completely bummfuzzled that" one would make such an accusation after only, "perusing threads quickly"!

RACE ON!!!

 

Well I guess I was handed my head quicker than I thought that it would happen.

I suppose my "Did he ever give us the code?" question was a rhetorical one.

So I apologize again and I will be certain not to bother you again.

Excuse me for living!

 

Sorry MB, but you did deserve it, 1st you didn't read the threads very good and then asked if he did post the codes. You could have very easily reread the threads yourself, plus I think CFI was pretty good about the whole thing. Some people would not only handed you your head(which CFI really didn't), but spit in your eye to.
Just take it as lessoned learned and go on with life.

 

"Did he ever give us the code? If he did then I am REALLY perusing too fast." Doc


What I was trying to say is that I reread THIS thread and found no code that he has posted. It was a rhetorical question and I was not clear that I was saying something instead of asking something. If there are other threads about this problem I am not aware of them.

I have PM'd CFI with an apology. I did NOT mean for him to reread everything and give me a code. I would not DREAM of asking ANYONE to do such a thing.

I meant everything I said in a lighthearted way, which often does not come across in written text.

If I'm not good enough for the company here and you want me to leave the party, all you have to do is point me to the door. I will leave peacefully without a single word.

Have a great day,

 

Calm down Doc no one wants you to leave.CFI can be kinda direct sometimes so consider the source.I have misread posts myself and offered bogus(excuse the pun) info.I am betting it is the gas but you have guys pointing to opti soon as they hear "water" it is not water so much as Coolant that craps out an opti.Now about them codes......

Read this:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...m_id=48&arch=1

or take it to Autozone they will pull them for you.

 

Hey Southpaw...you getting all this?