Whats wrong with my vette
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69
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From: illinois
Whats wrong with my vette
Here what wrong lately my 1990 corvette had been runnin just fine and today day i got in it just to start not to drive(snow on the ground) and it started up kind of strange it idled okay but when i backed it up it shook real bad and felt like it was going to die any suggesitons on whats wrong.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
What was the strange startup?
Was the SES light on?
Did it idle ok once you shifted into "N"?
Did you let it warm up at all before dropping into gear?
Did you open the clam to see if there was moisture on the dist and/or wires?
Was the SES light on?
Did it idle ok once you shifted into "N"?
Did you let it warm up at all before dropping into gear?
Did you open the clam to see if there was moisture on the dist and/or wires?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69
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From: illinois
Originally Posted by 65Z01
What was the strange startup?
Was the SES light on?
Did it idle ok once you shifted into "N"?
Did you let it warm up at all before dropping into gear?
Did you open the clam to see if there was moisture on the dist and/or wires?
Was the SES light on?
Did it idle ok once you shifted into "N"?
Did you let it warm up at all before dropping into gear?
Did you open the clam to see if there was moisture on the dist and/or wires?
it shifted alright in N
Yes i let it warm up a little before i shifted it
I did not open it to see if there was moisture and dont know how actually
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
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From: Kempner Texas
Last time a car of mine did that (87 Supra Turbo) a rat had eaten through several spark plug wires.
It was attracted by the engine heat and needed something to nibble on while he was laying on the engine, nice and warm.
Jake
It was attracted by the engine heat and needed something to nibble on while he was laying on the engine, nice and warm.
Jake
Thread Starter
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From: illinois
Originally Posted by Michael_ERT
Any other signs of something wrong? Did she rev okay out of gear?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
By looking for moisture I was refering to checking around the dist cap and along the spark plug wires. Also you might view the under hood area with it idling in the dark as spark jumping is often visible in subdued lights.
Start her up again and see if the problem persists or if it was a fluke.
Start her up again and see if the problem persists or if it was a fluke.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,263
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From: CV ca
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by JAKE
Last time a car of mine did that (87 Supra Turbo) a rat had eaten through several spark plug wires.
It was attracted by the engine heat and needed something to nibble on while he was laying on the engine, nice and warm.
Jake
It was attracted by the engine heat and needed something to nibble on while he was laying on the engine, nice and warm.
Jake
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
rough
wow you can find anything on this forum, even animosity!!!
the problem can't be diagnosed properly without some decent observations.
no SES light, and the computer didn't pick up on a failed part.
It could pick up on a failed system, but it wasn't driven. we will probably have to check stuff before the test drive.
1. check for smoke and what color
2. use a flashlight and check for anything out of the ordinary.
(fuel leaks, loose vacuum hoses, exposed wires, etc.
3. is it repeatable?
4. how cold is it? is that why you think it's thermostat related?
5. how long since you ran it last? did you use stabil in the gas?
6. etc. etc. etc.
the problem can't be diagnosed properly without some decent observations.
no SES light, and the computer didn't pick up on a failed part.
It could pick up on a failed system, but it wasn't driven. we will probably have to check stuff before the test drive.
1. check for smoke and what color
2. use a flashlight and check for anything out of the ordinary.
(fuel leaks, loose vacuum hoses, exposed wires, etc.
3. is it repeatable?
4. how cold is it? is that why you think it's thermostat related?
5. how long since you ran it last? did you use stabil in the gas?
6. etc. etc. etc.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69
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From: illinois
Originally Posted by coupeguy2001
wow you can find anything on this forum, even animosity!!!
the problem can't be diagnosed properly without some decent observations.
no SES light, and the computer didn't pick up on a failed part.
It could pick up on a failed system, but it wasn't driven. we will probably have to check stuff before the test drive.
1. check for smoke and what color
2. use a flashlight and check for anything out of the ordinary.
(fuel leaks, loose vacuum hoses, exposed wires, etc.
3. is it repeatable?
4. how cold is it? is that why you think it's thermostat related?
5. how long since you ran it last? did you use stabil in the gas?
6. etc. etc. etc.
the problem can't be diagnosed properly without some decent observations.
no SES light, and the computer didn't pick up on a failed part.
It could pick up on a failed system, but it wasn't driven. we will probably have to check stuff before the test drive.
1. check for smoke and what color
2. use a flashlight and check for anything out of the ordinary.
(fuel leaks, loose vacuum hoses, exposed wires, etc.
3. is it repeatable?
4. how cold is it? is that why you think it's thermostat related?
5. how long since you ran it last? did you use stabil in the gas?
6. etc. etc. etc.
I have seen any loose hose or open wires
yes it is repeatable
Last week i had been driving it and it was in the sixties this week
it been in the teens yeah i think possibly usually it runs pretty hot
but the needle hadnt move past a hundred while i was driving it
i drove it last week
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by olds442/vette
First of all the thermostat has been reading at 100 after ive been running it for over a half hour
Originally Posted by olds442/vette
...and second i said i hadnt checked under the distributer cap for moisture not under the hood
Originally Posted by olds442/vette
and im not the one who thought it was my tire pressure causing the problems
RACE ON!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 762
Look Olds442/Vette, CFI-EFI probably has good intentions but it doesn't always appear that way. He seems knowledgeable about Corvettes. I've asked him by what authority he speaks so confidently about Corvettes and he's never answered my question. Just try to overlook his snide remarks and answer his questions. Probably he's a nice guy once you get to know him. If you don't already own a professional service manual, CFI-EFI will badger you about that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
CFI is right. The original poster posts like he knows almost nothing about cars then comes on an online forum asking "what is wrong with my car."
He may not come off the most graceful but he is damn close to being right on target.
Close the hood and take it into a shop, you're over your head.
You too Kopbet, you couldn't troubleshoot your car out of a wet paper bag.
He may not come off the most graceful but he is damn close to being right on target.
Close the hood and take it into a shop, you're over your head.
You too Kopbet, you couldn't troubleshoot your car out of a wet paper bag.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69
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From: illinois
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
You are proving my point. A thermostat doesn't read. You don't see a thermostat. Even if the thermostat were defective, it would have nothing to do with anything you have complained of.
What you said, and I repeat, is "I did not open it to see if there was moisture and dont know how actually", in response to, "Did you open the clam to see if there was moisture on the dist and/or wires?". The clam is the hood. You don't remove the distributor cap to check for moisture ON the distributor or spark plug wires. I reiterate my previous comments.
If you really though I was seriously suggesting the problem was tire pressure then you are worse off than I thought. It was an appropriate nonsense response to the nonsense, nonspecific, general complaint, with no information in the opening post.
RACE ON!!!
What you said, and I repeat, is "I did not open it to see if there was moisture and dont know how actually", in response to, "Did you open the clam to see if there was moisture on the dist and/or wires?". The clam is the hood. You don't remove the distributor cap to check for moisture ON the distributor or spark plug wires. I reiterate my previous comments.
If you really though I was seriously suggesting the problem was tire pressure then you are worse off than I thought. It was an appropriate nonsense response to the nonsense, nonspecific, general complaint, with no information in the opening post.
RACE ON!!!
And also the plug wires do lead back to the distributer and you can disconect from the ditributer and i take it thats what 65 zo1 was talking about.
Finally if your trying to cover up what you said before on your first respnse and i quote(Tire Presure or check trouble shooting charts) dont bother you also say if i took that seriously. I try to think everyone takes things seriously because people post threads to get help that what this forum is for not to act like a smart *** and trying to cover for your first respnse to my thread honestly tire pressure i didnt realize tires had anything to do with how a car idle hmmmm ill have to look into that one if your going to try to help me then do what you can i appreciate but if not dont try like you know everything there is to know about vettes cause apparently from your first responce
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Marlboro NY
If your water temp sensor on your dash reads only 100 verify it by touching the upper radiator hose. If its just warm then your dash reads correctly. If its hot then the gauge is wrong or you have a bad ground somewhere.
The computer looks at a water temp sensor for fuel enrichment on startup. If this wire is broken it will over fuel the motor and cause it to run really rough. My 91 full size Blazer wouldn't stay running with that wire broken. There is 2 water temp sensors though, one for the ecm and one for the dash gauge. The one you need to inspect is in the front of the intake manifold.
Start there.
The computer looks at a water temp sensor for fuel enrichment on startup. If this wire is broken it will over fuel the motor and cause it to run really rough. My 91 full size Blazer wouldn't stay running with that wire broken. There is 2 water temp sensors though, one for the ecm and one for the dash gauge. The one you need to inspect is in the front of the intake manifold.
Start there.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Marlboro NY
Originally Posted by olds442/vette
Hey well i can garuntee that i more about vettes than you do you think your tough guy posted somthing after everybody else dose wow your cool why dont you mind your damn bussieness this forum for help what did you want to put on my thread some real advanced stuff who wants to read that why dont you think before you post
If someone wants to be pissed off at you for asking a question they should find something else to take their aggression out on besides the Corvette Forum. Please guys take up kick boxing and buy a heavy bag or something. That way when someone asks a question you don't like you can jump out of your comfy seat and kick the crap out of it. I don't want you guys to get carpal tunnel because there are 100's of silly questions each week you guys can go off on.
P.S.
442- Please use sentence structure. It helps us understand what your asking for. A few periods here and there go a long way on here.
