My misery
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: saginaw michigan
just spent half hour typing this out and comp.froze so here we go again- cleaned all connections i could find and still no start!And for MK 42 it all started with a little hesetation off the line and a knocking like it was out of time.It would spit and sputter untill i took my foot off the throttle,then it would take off like normal.took it in and got a vacume test new plugs and wires,an injection air intake purge fuel filter,two knock sensors.nothing changed no codes dealership was speechless didnt know where to go from this point.So 2 winters ago i had my opti changed (cause it craped out)to a msd and a msd coil ,and new water pump.car ran fine for a week then i put a chip in ....ran fine for 2 days then i noticed it's taking longer to start so out comes the chip,car was taking 10-15 min. to start,but once it started it drove and after shutting off it started right up.just after complete cooldown is when it happens.i had another ecm from before .wasnt the problem so i had a spare.tried both no change.here's what ive put in - 2knock sensors................................$ 114.78 map sensor.................................. ....$23.37 map sensor pig tail ........................ $21.54 2rear u-joints replaced......................$56.00. labour.................................. ......... $436.00 ecm..................................... ..........$344.51 msd dist.................................... .....$629.00 msd coil.................................... .......$59.83 msd rotor .................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$ 32.60 my msd dist was missing rotor!!!! injection air intake purge.................$129.95 fuel filter.................................. .......$36.80 trans.flush............................. ........$157.40 bosch 3injectors(jon's).....................$2 00.54 platinum plugs................................$23 4.00 spark plug wires..............................$136. 00 thermostat.............................. .........$35.70 TB gasket.................................. .......$12.80 harmonic ballancer...........................$285 .95 water pump.................................... .$360.94 labour for installs and tests....... $616.00 $399.75...$679.81..$240.00....$456.25
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 110
Likes: 1
the msd dist. was brand new,i bought it, gave to mech but ut sat in his garage for 5 monthes before he opened it (winter project) . he kept my car all winter i was in no hurry to get it back in the snow.So i got free storage all winter.for you other guys -i didnt just throw all these parts at it because it wont start ,it all started with a stumble on acceleration.over 2 years of trying to chase down this prob led to all these parts.when 2 dealerships cant figure it out and one private mech. the private mech installed the msd,water pump,coil,plugs,ceramic brake pads plus winter storage and labour for 1400.00 that includes the cost of waterpump,i think i got a hell of a deal. anyway thanks for all your imput and advice. Ill have time this weekend to look at it. Iwould like to know where that guy can find a fuel press.tester for 12.00. cheapest i can find is 59.99.any way im picking one up this week.thanx again everybody
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Central New York NY
One thing for sure, you've got to determine whether the problem is on the gas side or the electrical side before you go throwing more parts at it. Was the fuel pressure checked while you were trying to start it or just with the key on? The part about taking longer and longer to start sounds like a fuel problem to me. Hope you find the problem.
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: Central New York NY
You may be able to sign out a fuel pressure tester at Advance Auto or some place like that. One thing I'm finding out from reading this forum is that the first thing you have to nail down is the fuel pressure.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 10,428
Likes: 9
From: Southside of Western Norte Americano State of Confusion, ColoFornia
St. Jude '13
Amen!
I just want to add, at this point you need to forget EVERYTHING that has been replaced.. just troubleshoot from square one..all of this "it cant be that it's new" thinking is only confusing the issue.. Start with the basics
Fuel pressure, Spark and move on from there. the simple diagnostic procedure will lead you to the problem. It may very well be something simple and overlooked.
I just want to add, at this point you need to forget EVERYTHING that has been replaced.. just troubleshoot from square one..all of this "it cant be that it's new" thinking is only confusing the issue.. Start with the basics
Fuel pressure, Spark and move on from there. the simple diagnostic procedure will lead you to the problem. It may very well be something simple and overlooked.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 1
From: Garden Grove CA
What he said.
Get a factory service manual, they have the best diagnostic flow charts. Alternatively: find a new mechanic. Not because yours is not capable - sometimes a fresh face will see something missed by others.
I hope you kept all the old parts/sensors etc., because most of them likely have nothing wrong with them.
Thomas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Miami Florida
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Wouldn't it be something if the fuel is the reason it won't start?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 110
Likes: 1
Drained fuel and put in fresh...fuel press jumped to 42psi instantly(hallaloooooooya) ..droped down to 40psi after 5 min. stayed at 40psi for half hour! 
[IMG][URL=http://s789.photobucket.com/a[/IMG] also pulled vacume line off fuel regulator (i think) and didnt smell gas before and during pressure test!! is it supposed to smell ? I see the pic's didnt woork.... ill put them in my garage for viewing.
[IMG][URL=http://s789.photobucket.com/a[/IMG] also pulled vacume line off fuel regulator (i think) and didnt smell gas before and during pressure test!! is it supposed to smell ? I see the pic's didnt woork.... ill put them in my garage for viewing.
Last edited by demon seed; Jun 19, 2010 at 08:58 PM. Reason: update
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 264
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio Texas
Hey Demon,
I am new to the forum, just bought my Vette 3 weeks ago. I don't have any technical advice to offer. I just wanted to say that I admire your tenacity to get the problem fixed. You have incredible patients and if I were in your shoes, that thing would have been towed to my mechanic on day 2!
I hope you get your Vette running like a champ again soon. You are a better man than me! :-)
John in San Antonio
I am new to the forum, just bought my Vette 3 weeks ago. I don't have any technical advice to offer. I just wanted to say that I admire your tenacity to get the problem fixed. You have incredible patients and if I were in your shoes, that thing would have been towed to my mechanic on day 2!
I hope you get your Vette running like a champ again soon. You are a better man than me! :-)
John in San Antonio
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati oh
Mine was a similar problem, check the fuel pressure regulator, i replaced about everything you did and that was the ticket for me, also when all else fails you can try Gordon Kilabrew
I am in Cincinnati If you are close i can PM you a great Corvette guy.
I am in Cincinnati If you are close i can PM you a great Corvette guy.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 2
From: Canandaigua New York
UPDATE- just finnished installing jons fic injectors .....piece of **** still wont start 
must be something else I read in this (common problems) thingie that wile trying to start, the engine will stumble like its trying to start when you release the key back to the run poossition. thay said it is a poor or insufficant power supply to ignition. 
Dose this sound possible , has it happened to anyone else. where would a guy look to inspect these wires. Hell it could just be the ground .
must be something else I read in this (common problems) thingie that wile trying to start, the engine will stumble like its trying to start when you release the key back to the run poossition. thay said it is a poor or insufficant power supply to ignition. Dose this sound possible , has it happened to anyone else. where would a guy look to inspect these wires. Hell it could just be the ground .I've had this happen to me once.
My car wouldn't start (85 Trans Am) . I would try starting it and it would just turn over. But when I released the key it would 'sputter'.
So, instead of ripping it apart and replacing things at will, I took out a volt meter and hooked it up to the power wire on the distributor.
With the key in the 'start' position, it showed no voltage. In the 'run' position the 12 volts reappeared.
Turned out I had a bad ignition switch (at the base of the column).
Replaced it and the car started right up.
Just a thought!