Distributor Cap & Rotor Burned
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Distributor Cap & Rotor Burned
87 model Center of cap completely burned thru ..contact point on rotor completely disintergrated..contact brush/spring ( just bbsized remained ). Accell supercoil # 140005 bottom burned ..rubber grommet beneath coil burned badly ( bottom side) . Replaced Accell coil, cap and rotor . Appeartently all the burned pieces were not recent..not a trace of any debris . Car ran strong ( 383 lots of bells and whistles ) . Started the car ..felt like 6 to 7 holes working .Checked bosch plugs .all looked good ( the ones I could get to anyway) . Vette barely starts if at all. When it does run it pops and not for long..maybe 20 seconds. I have no idea about engine computer codes..how to retreive them much less understand them ! Brother-in -law ( previous owner ) told me to disconnect neg side of batterty to let computer reset it self . Did that..no improvement ... Man, I'm at a total loss . If any of you guru's can offer advice, I'd appreciate it .
Mikey
Mikey
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 2
From: High Ridge Missouri
Is the internal ground inside the cap there (one under the front corner of coil and goes to the connector in cap)? I've seen a few burn up like you described and that ground terminal has always been the problem.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Codes set in the computer can be used along with the trouble shooting charts in your FSM (Factory Service Manual) to diagnose, locate, and repair the causes of problems. Disconnecting the battery erases the codes set and stored in the ECM. You have just wiped out the best clues to finding and fixing your problems. Since they haven't been corrected, they will come back as you drive the car. Meanwhile, order the FSM, read and become familiar with it so you can find and fix the problems. Remember, too, just because a code was set by a particular sensor, doesn't mean that the sensor is bad. Don't shoot the messenger.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
burn-thru
i read somewhere that cheap caps can do this if the materials aren't top grade for the center electrode or the coil gets cracked by hot then cold then hot cold (u get it) and the spark jumps
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Thanks for the info !! I really wish the old vette didn't have all the computer stuff but .... things were much easier in the muscle car years! I'll get the maunals needed . Ground strap is in place on the new accel coil . Wondering how long the engine needs to run in order for the computer to reboot with all the codes I erased ???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
If you get it up and running again and the SES light begins to flash that means you've thrown a code....shut the engine off, above your right knee (while in the drivers seat) you'll see an ALDL, may still have the plastic slip on cover, there is a top row of pins, some on the bottom too, you're interested in the top 2 right ones. Take a paper clip or jumper wire and short the top 2 right ones...turn the key to the ON position, don't start it....where the SES light is it will begin to flash first it should flash once, then a pause then flash twice...that's code twelve,meaning you're in diagnostics, code 33 would be flash, flash, flash pause flash, flash, flash. If you get that far come back with what you get. BTW, if I remember right code 12 will repeat 3 times before going on.
As for your distributor problem..could be ground strap or something else...never had that problem, you may want to see how much slop (vertical) there is...where the rotor goes on see how much you can lift the shaft.
As for your distributor problem..could be ground strap or something else...never had that problem, you may want to see how much slop (vertical) there is...where the rotor goes on see how much you can lift the shaft.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Hang with me guys.... If the reboot caused all the codes the burnt suff created to disappear, wouldn't replacing with all new stuff ( coil, cap and rotor ) and after getting the thing to idle for a few minutes shouldn't the codes come back as normal ? Meaning, the crap codes are replaced with correct ones ? it would seem that after the motor runs awhile the computer might re-adjust the settings and all would live happliy ever after ?????
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
I believe it's .045 . I found the plug-in connector under the dash right side . I guess it's time to use the paper clip !!!! I do apppreciate all the info . The more I learn , the less it will cost me to keep that 383 running . This am had to put a tricle charge on the batt. Tried to crank it turned over quite well ( one smll hint the engine tried to fire but batt was weakening .
Mikey
Mikey
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
To Rick Lambert
I shorted the pins ..and the radiator fan came on ? Is this normal ? I did see the codes you mentioned . SES blinked a code 33 . Sometimes I need to be hit with a bag of rocks b4 something sinks in ! ..
MIkey
MIkey
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Bag of Rocks !!
I have ordered the FSM !! also, while tinkering and cussing, I noticed something . this thing has one line going to the bottom of the MAF and the other connecting to the cannister under left headlight . Should this thing be grounded ? noticed where at one time it was secured ( bolt scars on the metal piece where the connector is mounted . Thought this may add to the code 33 ?? Hanging in the and frustrated ! Again, thanks to all who have assisted me with their expertise !!! I removed the coil for the 3rd time and I had crimped the connector off the ground strap . Bought a replacement ..crimped it on the ground wire . reattatched the coil ..same prob ..will not fire
Mikey
Mikey
