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

Need help with 1990 with terrible miss

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 21, 2002 | 11:42 AM
  #1  
War Machine's Avatar
War Machine
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,192
Likes: 1
From: Airport Cruise-in 1 Veteran Airport Cruise-in 2 Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Need help with 1990 with terrible miss

Hi Folks,

I have a friend with a 1990 that has me stumped and I need your help BADLY! All was good until he got on the gas. He says he got on the throttle hard and it started to run like crap. It idles rough like he has a miss and stays that way throughout the driving range. Codes 21 and 34 popped up. I thought maybe he needs a prom upgrade due to his mods but he reminded me that it was running fine before. It just happened all of a sudden.

He's done plugs, wires, cap, rotor and fuel filter and has not cleared the problem. We tested the TPS and get no reading. We even checked a few other TPS's that I have in my little Dr. bag and none of them had a reading. He tested the wire from the TPS to the ECM and it checks OK. I checked all the vacuum lines and everything appears to be fine. Nothing seems to be unplugged. No codes have stored since the original ones were erased.

What else should we look for? Any help would be very appreciated! :blueangel:

-John
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2002 | 12:36 PM
  #2  
65Z01's Avatar
65Z01
Team Owner
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: Need help with 1990 with terrible miss (War Machine)

The Code 21 (TPS too high when air flow is less than 15gm/sec) combined with Code 34 (MAP signal too high when TPS greater than 1.5Vdc) might point to a bad MAP sensor.

A scan tool would tell the story.
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2002 | 12:59 PM
  #3  
joecaver's Avatar
joecaver
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 44,773
Likes: 1
From: 63.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
Default Re: Need help with 1990 with terrible miss (War Machine)

Make sure that the bolt that holds the distributor from turning is tight. If the bolt loose and you get on the gas hard it can turn a little at a time and you know the rest of the story.
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2002 | 01:33 PM
  #4  
War Machine's Avatar
War Machine
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,192
Likes: 1
From: Airport Cruise-in 1 Veteran Airport Cruise-in 2 Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default (65Z01)

Thanks! We'll check into that. :)

joecaver, we haven't done the timing yet due to the TPS reading 0.00. Will we still be able to accurately set the timing like that?
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2002 | 06:51 PM
  #5  
gtsyellow's Avatar
gtsyellow
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,019
Likes: 0
From: down that one road next to that big tree
Default Re: (65Z01) (War Machine)

corvette0096 has a spare map sensor if you need one, also keep an eye on your plug wires, more misfires come from leaky wires that are gummed up with oil
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2002 | 10:59 AM
  #6  
War Machine's Avatar
War Machine
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,192
Likes: 1
From: Airport Cruise-in 1 Veteran Airport Cruise-in 2 Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

Thanks again for the help. Well here's an update. We set the timing, checked the TPS again and the MAP, both seem to be fine. I think his code 21 is from that silly throttle performance switch. :crazy: We decided to change out the ECM and it ran worse. We're beginning to think it's the fuel pump by the way it was bucking back and forth. I don't really know what a failing fuel pump is like on a C4 so I could be wrong.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2002 | 11:32 AM
  #7  
War Machine's Avatar
War Machine
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,192
Likes: 1
From: Airport Cruise-in 1 Veteran Airport Cruise-in 2 Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: (War Machine)

Thanks for the suggestions! :cheers:

It turned out to be one fuel injector stuck open. Also it is that doggone throttle performance switch that set a code 21. I really wish the parts folks would stop selling that thing. :mad
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Need help with 1990 with terrible miss





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:04 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE