Hi, I just bought me an 86 vette it needs alot of tender love and care the previous owner apparently didn't like the interrior plasitc and somehow managed to crack ANYTHING with plastic that was inside few other minor problems that should be easy fixes, but this ones got me confused good.

I'm sort of new to this whole fixing up cars buisness but I learn quick and my dad is a big help.

I just got it so I still need to go out and buy fuel pressure gauge and a diagnostic tool so I can read error codes but I figure Id toss this out there to see if anyone has any ideas.

When the car is running the fuel pump never seems to shutoff I can hear is running constantly if I'm outside the car listening for it or if I touch the gas tank lit I feel it vibrating rapidly. You can smell that the car is running rich from behind the car and if you open the hood it smells like gas.

Also not sure if its related or not, this is an intermittent problem that doesn't *seem* to be affected by temperature or anything else but sometimes if you hit on the gas "hard" 2.7k+rpms the engine missfires its intermittent so its really a pain sometimes it will run great then 2 minutes later misses its really the only "serious" problem I have with the car right now and once I get these problems fixed its upgrade time.

Thanks for any help
-Chris

 

It is normal for the pump to run, it must supply continuous pressure to the injectors. If the car is running rich check the fuel pressure, make sure the vacuum line is connected to the regulator on the fuel rail.
If the vacuum line is connected, see if there is any evidence of fuel in it when you pull it off the regulator. Fuel there indicates the diaphragm has failed in the regulator, good luck.

 

You can do it with a paper clip.

Read this:

http://corvettebuyers.com/c4vettes/ecm.htm

 

Get the fuel pressure guage and see what fuel pressure you have. The schrader valve that you connect the guage to is located on the passenger side fuel rail just forward of the fuel pressure regulator mentioned. If you can hear the fuel pump "whine", it's probably on it's last leg or the strainer, sock, or fuel filter is Super clogged.

I would go ahead and make sure the car is sound mechanicaly before worrying too much about the interior. The missing could be from a few things. You may need new plugs and wires or the injectors might be in need of replacing. You can ohm the injector coils to see.

You won't need a diagnositc tool unless you want to scan the engine with a laptop and cable. To pull the codes just use a paperclip and purchase a FSM (factory service manual).