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

85 tech questions

Old Sep 10, 2009 | 12:38 PM
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I have a 1985 Corvette. It had stalling issues at red lights. When the temp. got up to about 175 it would stall sometimes. I have had Chevy garages and other mechanics look at it. They changed fuel filters and a complete tune up. When I start it now the idle is about 1100 to 1200. It again came to a red light and dropped below 500 and stalled several times. Now a week after tune up, it starts up and stalls out. When I try to restart it, it turns over till I think the battery is getting low and then starts. Any ideas.
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 02:53 PM
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Sounds like you need a new mechanic. You may have more than one problem. Start with the basics, check the fuel pressure. Are you getting a good hot spark to the plugs. What all did their tune up consist of?
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 03:45 PM
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Default 85 tech

I have had it to a few different mechanics. The tune up was new plugs, oil, filters was what they told me. They said the old fuel filter was dirty so they put a new one on. Since the tune up, there has been a couple of times it was very hard to start. They said there was a melted wire but didn't say what it was. Before the tune up, the idle would jump between 500 and 800 and sometimes go into the 400's and stall. Now the idle seems high.
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 03:57 PM
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It may have a vacuam leak or it could be the IAC needs to be cleaned or replaced,could also be the EGR is bad or the diaphram is leaking,any one can cause an erratic or high idle and stalling.It needs to be hooked up to a scanner and driven around so you can see whats going on.When it is idling is the idle smooth or does it have a miss?...WW

Last edited by WW7; Sep 10, 2009 at 04:03 PM.
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 04:34 PM
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It doesn't sound like it misses. After the tune up, it has an idle at start up of 1100 or 1200 and then goes to 1000. When the idle goes down to 500 or under, the steering wheel seems to vibrate. Before the tune up, I would sit at red lights with one foot on the brake and one on the gas to keep it running.
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Old Oct 10, 2009 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by rjsherrin
It doesn't sound like it misses. After the tune up, it has an idle at start up of 1100 or 1200 and then goes to 1000. When the idle goes down to 500 or under, the steering wheel seems to vibrate. Before the tune up, I would sit at red lights with one foot on the brake and one on the gas to keep it running.
Putting money on the MAF sensor or burnoff module...

Try "1985 corvette burn off" on google...

Or search function here on the forum...

Trying to help out someone here in Europe with an 85 with the same problem, he got a code 33 and having similar problems...

Last edited by vette079; Oct 10, 2009 at 03:47 PM.
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Old Oct 10, 2009 | 09:42 PM
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Mine had some similar symptoms. I had bad injectors, and a bad tps. The tps didn't throw a code. Hope this helps.
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Old Oct 10, 2009 | 11:57 PM
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First I gonna bet your mechanic don't know jack shat about a Corvette. Second, are you seeing any codes thrown (SES) light,if so what are they? Was timing set "by the book". Was the IAC and plenum cleaned? Was the idle properly set along with the TPS. After you are confident these are correct then you should look for vacuum leaks, ohm the injectors check fuel pressure. An FSM would really help.
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