C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Rough running 95 vette

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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 04:18 PM
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Default Rough running 95 vette

Hey everyone.
My friend has a 1995 Corvette with a 6 speed with about 85k of miles. So here's the break down,
I've ridden in his car once already when he got it, and it was running wonderfully smooth, and purred so well.

Couple days ago he told me everything is running extremely rough, mostly at low RPMs. So I took another ride, and holy crap, felt like we were driving on rocks . Also, at idle, the car felt like it was going to stall, so i told him to change his spark plugs(we will be doing this tomorrow), and maybe his fuel injectors.

Now, we took another look at the engine, it looks like oil is leaking all over the front suspension from the engine? Any suggestions would help. Thanks!

BTW, I drive a jeep, but would like a c4 if i had the money.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 04:46 PM
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Sounds like a front seal ,possibly the water pump shaft seal and the opti-spark sounds like it has struck another LT1 again . In its defense oil leaking will cause issues.If it were me (opti,plugs, wires ,w/p) while your there. I highly doubt the injectors.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by catlettlt1
Sounds like a front seal ,possibly the water pump shaft seal and the opti-spark sounds like it has struck another LT1 again . In its defense oil leaking will cause issues.If it were me (opti,plugs, wires ,w/p) while your there. I highly doubt the injectors.
Awesome, thanks!

I thought injectors cause I went through the search on this website and some guy had the same symptoms as my friend.

There any write ups on changing all these?

for the spark plugs, it looks like I'm going to have to remove the fender inside of the tire to reach the plugs, is that right?
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 05:25 PM
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Just hold on unless you want to spend a lot of wasted money. The large oil leak is probably the intake the LT1 is known for intake leaks front and rea so look in both spots. Mine does and it does not affect how the engine runs. If there is anti freeze leaking it may be a different story.There are many reason for these cars to start running bad you friend needs to come here and give more details before anyone can diagnose , on hearsay " runs like driving on rocks" problem. There is a step bY step process to go through to diagnose why it runs bad not a guess and toss money at it process unless he has money to burn. If it indeed is the opti he better have a FSM and set of tools and do some research on here for hours before he tries to tackle that.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Redeasysport
Just hold on unless you want to spend a lot of wasted money. The large oil leak is probably the intake the LT1 is known for intake leaks front and rea so look in both spots. Mine does and it does not affect how the engine runs. If there is anti freeze leaking it may be a different story.There are many reason for these cars to start running bad you friend needs to come here and give more details before anyone can diagnose , on hearsay " runs like driving on rocks" problem. There is a step bY step process to go through to diagnose why it runs bad not a guess and toss money at it process unless he has money to burn. If it indeed is the opti he better have a FSM and set of tools and do some research on here for hours before he tries to tackle that.
We're not tackling anything yet besides the spark plugs, he'll take a good look at it one more time and he'll be on looking on what he needs to do next, I'm just helping him, he's not really a car guy but understands everything enough to know what he has to fix. Thanks again for all the help, I'll be back again after a second look at the engine.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 05:31 PM
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On the drivers side you just have to un-bolt the ASR unit and move it aside to get to all 4 plugs. On the right side some have removed the inner fender as you described. However I have a good enough assortment of ratchets and extensions to get it done with out doing anything else, but it was tight.

The time definitely to do the wires is when the pump is off and the opti is exposed. Regardless of whether or not the opti is going to be replaced. But if you pull the opti off, probably a good idea to replace it. I have just never hear of that much oil coming from the w/p or opti seal. Guess you just need to look at it all including the power steering assemblies.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 05:37 PM
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The first thing to do would be pull the codes from the ecm. Go to Autozone they will do it for him. Then you might have an idea what is up. I doubt it is the plugs at all. I prefer to do things right not guess.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Redeasysport
The first thing to do would be pull the codes from the ecm. Go to Autozone they will do it for him. Then you might have an idea what is up. I doubt it is the plugs at all. I prefer to do things right not guess.
I understand cause I'd rather do it right the first time and not waste the cash on something that won't fix the problem and we will be making a trip up to autozone tomorrow to pull the codes.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 05:49 PM
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Well, just remembered something about the auto part stores around here, cause my jeep had problems and i needed to check the codes, and it has the ODI and auto stores couldn't pull codes cause they didn't have the plug, Im pretty sure the Vette in 95 was an OBDI too, right? Then 96+had OBDII?

Last edited by C4VetteDreamer; Mar 27, 2008 at 08:37 PM.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 08:23 PM
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Nope it is OBDII hybrid

The search function works well here

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1725809

Last edited by Redeasysport; Mar 27, 2008 at 08:25 PM.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Redeasysport
Nope it is OBDII hybrid

The search function works well here

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1725809
Okay, kool thanks. Sorry I could have sworn in the sticky said the 95 had an OBDII system, guess I just read it wrong.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 09:39 PM
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I think an OBDII reader will work but as you see from the link you can pull codes like a OBDI car on the dash display. I am a 93 guy. I know it has an OBDII plug.

Last edited by Redeasysport; Mar 27, 2008 at 09:42 PM.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Redeasysport
I think an OBDII reader will work but as you see from the link you can pull codes like a OBDI car on the dash display. I am a 93 guy. I know it has an OBDII plug.
Yeah

So my friend "Forgot" to tell me that the spark plugs have already been changed 6 months ago, so they are pretty fresh.
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 10:33 PM
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But I wonder if he got the wires back on right. Question # 1 after code readings. It is easy to damage the wires on these cars. Dielectric grease should be used when putting them on and listen for the click. There is one or two that are hard to get to.One test to do is fire it up in a dark garage and watch for arcing.
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Old Mar 28, 2008 | 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Redeasysport
I think an OBDII reader will work but as you see from the link you can pull codes like a OBDI car on the dash display. I am a 93 guy. I know it has an OBDII plug.
Using the on board diagnostics on the dash is still a great way to go, works great and yields the same info as a scanner would.


Going to throw my 2 cents in would appreciate any input or corrections.

On the topic of OBD 1 & 2, the 95 as well as the 94 is a hybrid. Its agreed that the 96 is OBD 2. I have a Tech 1A as well a OBD 2 unit for my other newer cars. All use the 16 pin OBD 2 type connector. Just for curiosity I wanted to see if the OBD 2 would work on the vette. It would not because it could not establish the communications link for OBD 2.

According to the Helms book, the Tech 1A will show OBD 2 codes. But I cannot confirm this because I never had an OBD 2 code. Even though the 94 is a hybrid, it needs to be treated as an OBD 1 system, and I believe true for the 95 as well.

The 94 and 95 are very similar which leads me to the conclusion that a OBD 2 code reader will not work on a 95 either. If any one has actually has hands on experience with this and success, I would like to hear this.

Thanks
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Old Mar 28, 2008 | 08:22 AM
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At 85 k I bet its the opti - spark and wires ,and I agree that the oil leak could also be the intake gasket. Is the engine light on ? And the opti spark and plugs isn't wasting money 85k they are probablly orignal .jmo
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Old Mar 28, 2008 | 12:49 PM
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fix those leaks first otherwise you will be throwing money out. My 95 was leaking all over. Every seal was replaced and even a new water pump gear and a new hub. the front leaked stopped. I would change the opti and wires after all leaks are sealed.
good luck
btw I did not replace the hub the first time I just used a sleeve but it still leaked because of a few small grooves in the hub. I had about 65K on the speedo
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Old Mar 28, 2008 | 07:00 PM
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So figured out today it's the water pump leaking on the crank sensor, so thats why its rough driving, he keeps a shortage.

We checked all the auto part store and they couldn't pull codes, it kept say "Error" on the reader.
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Old Mar 28, 2008 | 07:54 PM
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WP leaking on the Opti? You need a Factory service manual and start doing some searches on Opti replacement. Big job to fix it better study up if you want to do it yourself. $120 for a WP $200 for an optispark and about 8hrs work if you hit it hard.

I gave you a link earlier that tells you how to pull the codes via the speedometer go back and look at it. You will need to find a diagram on the OBDII pinout it isn't listed on that link.

You probably have a leaky intake too $20 for the gasket set and a couple of bucks for The Right Stuff gasket maker and another 4 or 5 hrs of work to fix that.

Last edited by Redeasysport; Mar 28, 2008 at 07:59 PM.
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Old Mar 28, 2008 | 09:05 PM
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I am only to assume that the part stores are looking at that 16 pin connector and thinking it is OBD 2 and that’s what kind of reader they are trying to use. The baud rates and protocol are different for each system. They are going to need an OBD 1 reader with a special connector to convert from the normal 12 pin to 16 pin. I suggest you do what Redeasysport has suggested to use the on board diagnostics for the codes. Use the link he has indicated and use post #3.

You don’t have to run around to get help from the part stores. The car can pull its own codes and get the same results if you learn how to do it. Print it out and follow the directions. You can always ask additional information.

There is also an excellent chance that you will have no code from the opti because only the low voltage optical section is capable of throwing a code which is 16, low resolution pulse. Usually the cap and rotor is the problem caused by aging and moisture, and there is no code for that. There is not a code for everything, only the items that are monitored by the PCM and CCM.
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