Cranks but won't turn over

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Nov 18, 2011 | 12:45 AM

S.D.M.F

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From: Anniston Alabama

Cranks but won't turn over

Could someone help me out here? I have an '89 that I bought about a month ago. It has been running great till today. It cranked and ran fine when I left to go to my classes. Came back it wouldn't turn over, acted like the battery was dead. Tried to jump it off but no luck. I bought a new battery, hooked it up and the car fires right up. I let it just idle for a minute or two just encase it was flooded, it was a smooth idle too. Then the rpm's slowly drop till it shuts off. It is stillbut sitting in the school parking lot. Any ideas on what's going on with it?

Nov 18, 2011 | 02:28 AM

desertmike1

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From: Palmdale CA

what shape are the battery cables in?

Nov 18, 2011 | 02:42 AM

Cliff Harris

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From: Anaheim CA

Sounds like you need to do a "minimum idle" adjustment. The procedure is here:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=55&TopicID=2

Nov 18, 2011 | 05:42 AM

S.D.M.F

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From: Anniston Alabama

The battery cables looks to be in good condition.

Nov 18, 2011 | 06:00 AM

96GS#007

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From: Texas

The fact that it runs and then slowly dies typically indicates a fuel issue.

I would pull the vacuum line off the fuel pressure regulator and check for fuel. If it has fuel in it, the regulator is bad. It's probably not this since the car will usually run with a bad regulator. It'll just start hard when warm.

Next, I would install a fuel pressure gauge on the fuel rail. Turn the key to run and check the pressure. Should be around 43psi, +/- a few psi is fine. Watch the fuel pressure and see if it holds or drops quickly. If it holds, then the fuel pump check valve and injectors are not leaking.

Lastly, start the car and let it idle until it dies while watching the fuel pressure. If the pressure slowly drops until the car dies, the fuel pump is bad. Even in a parking lot, this is a 30 - 45 minute swap assuming you have access to basic tools.

With ignition issues, typically the car just dies. Having said that, a bad alternator can exhibit symptoms like you describe, including killing the battery. A short in the alternator can kill a battery very quickly. If the alternator is bad, you should have a red warming light illuminated on your dash and the voltage display will read very low...ie 9v...as the battery runs the engine until it dies.

Nov 18, 2011 | 08:38 AM

AGENT 86

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From: Summerland B.C. Canada

Check fuel pressure and if you have a noid light, test for injector pulse after it dies.

Nov 18, 2011 | 10:26 AM

S.D.M.F

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From: Anniston Alabama

Just a quick update, I went this morning to see if it would do anything. It started right up, I did a few laps around the parking lot. Once I felt comfortable I headed home with it. Got on a straight away and opened it up some. Made it home fine, turned it off then cranked it up again just to make sure. I guess it was just flooded from trying to jump it off with a weak battery. Thank you all for your responses.