car left me stranded
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL, USA
car left me stranded (SOLUTION FOR REFERENCE)
I think it could be VATS, what are the symptons?
My symptoms are security light blinking , got gas and spark but car wont start up
[Modified by GusBustamanteJr, 2:00 PM 10/12/2002]
My symptoms are security light blinking , got gas and spark but car wont start up
[Modified by GusBustamanteJr, 2:00 PM 10/12/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Does it crank at ALL? If not I'd wait 10 minutes and try it again if it is vats. In the meantime clean the resistor on your key with some rubbing alcohol if you have any available. Or break cleaner or WD-40. You could also unplug the battery for 5 minutes and try again. :)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: (scorp508)
Let me pull out the pressure guage and test........
BRB
any other ideas folks????
Car was fine all morning, drove it to work, it never started again :confused:
I used to love this car....... :nopity
BRB
any other ideas folks????
Car was fine all morning, drove it to work, it never started again :confused:
I used to love this car....... :nopity
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: car left me stranded (GusBustamanteJr)
Use your timing light to determine if the spark timing is correct. Put a low power 12v lamp across an injector harness plug and see if it is being pulsed when you crank it. Check for correct fuel pressure. When cranking and no start, press the accellerator all the way to the floor which stops the injectors so the cylinders will clear a flooding condition. Remove the flexible coupling from the air cleaner to insure that the air cleaner is not clogged and limiting air into the MAF sensor.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: car left me stranded (jfb)
okay
Fuel pressure is the same as always 48 drops a little when its cranking down to about 25, but the car wont start, so I would expect that right?
The injectors are pulsing, I put a viltmeter to them and cranked it, I got numbers, so they work, right?
The TB and duct are not blocked
I dont have a timing light ( i know, i know... I never thought I would own a car with a distrubutor again!) but could the timing have gone so far off just like that?
What else could it be?????? I am stuck!
Fuel pressure is the same as always 48 drops a little when its cranking down to about 25, but the car wont start, so I would expect that right?
The injectors are pulsing, I put a viltmeter to them and cranked it, I got numbers, so they work, right?
The TB and duct are not blocked
I dont have a timing light ( i know, i know... I never thought I would own a car with a distrubutor again!) but could the timing have gone so far off just like that?
What else could it be?????? I am stuck!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: car left me stranded (GusBustamanteJr)
Yes, the timing can be off. Also, I don't think the fuel pressure should drop to 25 psi when cranking. This might be an indication that fuel delivery is being limited by, say, a dirty fuel filter or a worn fuel pump, or low fuel level in the gas tank.
[Modified by jfb, 10:20 PM 10/11/2002]
[Modified by jfb, 10:20 PM 10/11/2002]
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
...I think :crazy:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: car left me stranded (GusBustamanteJr)
You have already determined that you have spark. The spark module could be defective and you have a weak spark that won't jump the gap under 150 psi cylinder pressure, but I doubt that very much. If the ECM sees reference pulses from the distributor, it keeps the fuel pump on past the normal 2 seconds at the beginning of cranking. I think your fuel pump is shutting off and fuel pressure is dropping so low that the injectors aren't supplying gas to the cylinders. If I am right, then you will measure 12v on the fuel pump fuse (either terminal) only for 2 seconds when you crank the engine. If 12v stays on during cranking past 2 seconds and fuel pressure falls to 25 psi, then you have a fuel delivery problem to the injectors and I would suspect the fuel pump.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: car left me stranded (jfb)
I just sprayed some starter fluid into the brake vaccum line, and it started up and ran fine for a minute
I shut it off. let it sit for 10 minutes, and went to start it again....no dice.
Is this the fuel pump???
I shut it off. let it sit for 10 minutes, and went to start it again....no dice.
Is this the fuel pump???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: car left me stranded (GusBustamanteJr) SOLUTION FOR REFERENCE
Okay, found it. For anyone in the future that has this problem:
It was a sensor in front of the engine under the Throttle body. The sensors reciever (on the manifold) seems to have cracked, maybe when I took out the AIR tubes. The sensor worked itself loose. I plugged it in, and it fired up. I need a new connector.
Whats that sensor? A temp sensor of some sort? Seems to drastically control the fuel mixture.
It was a sensor in front of the engine under the Throttle body. The sensors reciever (on the manifold) seems to have cracked, maybe when I took out the AIR tubes. The sensor worked itself loose. I plugged it in, and it fired up. I need a new connector.
Whats that sensor? A temp sensor of some sort? Seems to drastically control the fuel mixture.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
You're kidding me! Does it have the same kind of clip that a fuel injector does on it? If so that is the sensor that controls your cold start injector. Wow I am amazed...........
*edit*
Wait hold on you have a 91, there is no CSV on your car. Hmmm..... well then I guess it was the coolant temp sensor. That would still have a part in the cold start operation for a 91.
[Modified by scorp508, 2:01 PM 10/12/2002]
*edit*
Wait hold on you have a 91, there is no CSV on your car. Hmmm..... well then I guess it was the coolant temp sensor. That would still have a part in the cold start operation for a 91.
[Modified by scorp508, 2:01 PM 10/12/2002]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: (scorp508)
Nope, it doesnt have the same connector. The connector is almost like the one on the master brake cylinder (that one broke too! fell off and melted on header)
I should have noticed earlier because ever since I removed the AIR tube that runs over the water pump, the engine has never fired on the first stroke like it always did. It always used to fire up on what seemed like the first spark and revolution, and since I changed out the tube, it would turn over once or twice before firing up.
It was hard getting that tube out of there without tearing apart the TB and making room, so I kinda forced it out, I remember it came out a bit bent!
Must have hurt the connector. Add it to the list of things to do!!!
Thanks to everyone for the help, especially Scorp and JFB.
Im gonna try to make it to the end of the autox today, and the speed trial tomorrow!!
Good Luck at the track Scorp!
BTW- Its clear, sunny, and 85 out here, top down, girls all over the beach and streets!
[Modified by GusBustamanteJr, 2:17 PM 10/12/2002]
[Modified by GusBustamanteJr, 2:18 PM 10/12/2002]
I should have noticed earlier because ever since I removed the AIR tube that runs over the water pump, the engine has never fired on the first stroke like it always did. It always used to fire up on what seemed like the first spark and revolution, and since I changed out the tube, it would turn over once or twice before firing up.
It was hard getting that tube out of there without tearing apart the TB and making room, so I kinda forced it out, I remember it came out a bit bent!
Must have hurt the connector. Add it to the list of things to do!!!
Thanks to everyone for the help, especially Scorp and JFB.
Im gonna try to make it to the end of the autox today, and the speed trial tomorrow!!
Good Luck at the track Scorp!
BTW- Its clear, sunny, and 85 out here, top down, girls all over the beach and streets!
[Modified by GusBustamanteJr, 2:17 PM 10/12/2002]
[Modified by GusBustamanteJr, 2:18 PM 10/12/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 1
From: New Albany IN
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'06-'08-'09
Re: car left me stranded (GusBustamanteJr)
Congrats on finding the problem.....My car is due for a problem like this...I will be one step ahead! :lol: :lol: