just flat quit!!!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: marion ar
just flat quit!!!
i have a 96 lt1 with about 80k miles... it is my first vette... and i am attempting to do the wrenching...
i havent received the manual i ordered yet... that being said...
i went to leave home tonight... cranked her over and heard a thud... but she ran ok... got about 5 miles from home... and the car just quit... i had lights... but when i finally came to a stop... i could turn her over... but it was like she was not getting gas...
a friend suggested it might be the fuel filter...
another friend suggested the fuel pump... but then said because of the thud perhaps the timing chain? just looking for the easiest solutions to check first... want to exhaust the simple things first...
suggestions welcome... wont have the time to check her out til next weekend... but would help if i have an idea where to look...
i havent received the manual i ordered yet... that being said...
i went to leave home tonight... cranked her over and heard a thud... but she ran ok... got about 5 miles from home... and the car just quit... i had lights... but when i finally came to a stop... i could turn her over... but it was like she was not getting gas...
a friend suggested it might be the fuel filter...
another friend suggested the fuel pump... but then said because of the thud perhaps the timing chain? just looking for the easiest solutions to check first... want to exhaust the simple things first...
suggestions welcome... wont have the time to check her out til next weekend... but would help if i have an idea where to look...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Hastings Florida
I'd start with looking for a trouble code that will hopefully lead you in the right direction.
Depending on how deep that "thud" sounded, I'd hate to think that could be something very serious.
Depending on how deep that "thud" sounded, I'd hate to think that could be something very serious.
Last edited by DMheart; Nov 15, 2011 at 03:09 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
A timing chain failure at 80K is highly unlikely. Also, the engine would not turn over, as there would be valve-to-piston interference.
Basic diagnosis for no-start is to squirt a sniff of ether into intake while cranking to see if car tries to start, if so, suspect a fuel delivery problem. You should hear the fuel pump (it's behind you, in the tank) run for a couple of seconds with the key on before cranking.
If no reaction, check a plug wire for spark while cranking by grounding to the block, or using an induction-type timing light. If no spark, could be the thud was the Optispark's farewell.
I agree that you should pull any codes, you need an OBDII code reader to do it. Some auto parts stores will do it for you, no charge.
Basic diagnosis for no-start is to squirt a sniff of ether into intake while cranking to see if car tries to start, if so, suspect a fuel delivery problem. You should hear the fuel pump (it's behind you, in the tank) run for a couple of seconds with the key on before cranking.
If no reaction, check a plug wire for spark while cranking by grounding to the block, or using an induction-type timing light. If no spark, could be the thud was the Optispark's farewell.
I agree that you should pull any codes, you need an OBDII code reader to do it. Some auto parts stores will do it for you, no charge.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
There are several no-start troubleshooting pages in the factory service manual. Start there!
Or just throw parts at it.
ICM
Coil
Harness from Opti to ECM
Plug & coil wires
Fuel filter
fuel pump
Opti
ECM
etc.
etc.
etc.
Or just throw parts at it.
ICM
Coil
Harness from Opti to ECM
Plug & coil wires
Fuel filter
fuel pump
Opti
ECM
etc.
etc.
etc.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: marion ar
the book has been shipped... thanks for the input... i cant get it to an autoparts store i live in the country... and i had her towed home... ill check the fuses and relays first then check for the things i can check like fuel delivery...ect... if that fails perhaps pay the local mechanic to come out here and diagnose the problem... however... i want to be the one to fix it...
i am hoping to take a trip in her to southern california next spring and i dont want to get caught in the middle of nowheresville afraid to work on her...
thanks for the suggestions... ill do what i can do...
i am hoping to take a trip in her to southern california next spring and i dont want to get caught in the middle of nowheresville afraid to work on her...
thanks for the suggestions... ill do what i can do...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
Shoot, I didn't read all of your first post - I apologize.
Steps:
Check fuses, you are looking for INJ 1, INJ 2 and the one for the ECM (I forget what its called and my FSM is at home)
Get a fuel pressure gage, hook it up to the valve near the fuel pressure regulator, turn the key on and look for pressure (should be north of 40psi), turn key off and leave it hooked up for a couple hours, note how fast it lost pressure.
Bang could have been excess fuel from a leaky injector.
I know when my lifter got into the timing chain and broke it there was not a lot of noise
Steps:
Check fuses, you are looking for INJ 1, INJ 2 and the one for the ECM (I forget what its called and my FSM is at home)
Get a fuel pressure gage, hook it up to the valve near the fuel pressure regulator, turn the key on and look for pressure (should be north of 40psi), turn key off and leave it hooked up for a couple hours, note how fast it lost pressure.
Bang could have been excess fuel from a leaky injector.
I know when my lifter got into the timing chain and broke it there was not a lot of noise
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
Is there gas in the tank? Sounds stupid but the gauge can be off that much if there is corrosion on the sending unit. If you don't know the car yet then you can't be sure. Why do I say this, it happened to me the day I bought my car (ran out of gas). Just something to consider.
Moving on, when you turn the key to ON (no crank) you should hear the fuel pump run for 2 seconds. Pump is in the tank in the rear so listen for it there. If there is no sound, there is a pump problem. I know you don't have a pressure gauge yet.
This is hard to describe but if the pump sounds too loud, there might be no gas in the tank.
The only other basic thing is suggest to do is to check for spark either off the coil or at a plug. At least that way you might know if you are in the spark or fuel area.
Don’t get to complicated out of the gate until you do the basics first.
Moving on, when you turn the key to ON (no crank) you should hear the fuel pump run for 2 seconds. Pump is in the tank in the rear so listen for it there. If there is no sound, there is a pump problem. I know you don't have a pressure gauge yet.
This is hard to describe but if the pump sounds too loud, there might be no gas in the tank.
The only other basic thing is suggest to do is to check for spark either off the coil or at a plug. At least that way you might know if you are in the spark or fuel area.
Don’t get to complicated out of the gate until you do the basics first.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
There is an oil return hole at the front of the block that was just the right size for the lifter to fit.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 116
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From: Hastings Florida
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: marion ar
okie dokie if you are interested here is what happened...
there was a hose connector that had come loose... it was dripping onto the electronics or distributor... and was shorting it out... when it dried up it started immediately but then cut out after about 5 minutes... it was then we figured out what was happening... thanks for all the help chasing the problem however...
there was a hose connector that had come loose... it was dripping onto the electronics or distributor... and was shorting it out... when it dried up it started immediately but then cut out after about 5 minutes... it was then we figured out what was happening... thanks for all the help chasing the problem however...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Maam - you need to plan on a waterpump and opti change at some point in time.
Even though the opti dried out I garundumtee you it wil fail again and won't return.
The optical sensor is the important part and getting water in there shortens its life.
Glad you got it running for now!
Even though the opti dried out I garundumtee you it wil fail again and won't return.
The optical sensor is the important part and getting water in there shortens its life.
Glad you got it running for now!
