85 won't start...help
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Richmond TX
85 won't start...help
ok, the vette was running fine....hadn't had a chance to drive it in a couple of days. went out today, and she wouldn't start...tries, and catches for just a second....but won't start. Almost acts like it's flodded....disconnected the MAF to see if it would start, but it acts just hte same. It's got spark, but I haven't been able check it....what do you think???? fuel pump?????
Any help appreciated...... :crazy:
Any help appreciated...... :crazy:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,801
Likes: 2
From: St. Paul MN
Re: 85 won't start...help (mk842766)
You need to start with the basics. An engine needs 3 things to run.
Air-not usually a problem for our cars to get air in.
Fuel-does the fuel pump prime for a couple seconds when you turn the key on, does it show pressure when you put a fuel pressure guage on the fuel rail, are your injectors firing, you need a noid test light to check the injectors for their ecm signal.
Spark-are you sure you have a spark, is it strong enough, you can get a very nice spark checker from OTC, Mac, Snap-on, Matco that you hook up inline between the spark plug wire and the plug. Crank the engine over and you can unscrew a little wheel on it to widen out the gap and see how strong the spark is. This is the best way to check that you are getting a strong spark. Forget about holding a screw driver in the end of the boot and holding it near a ground to see if it jumps. That works in a pinch but not the best way.
Did I miss anything guys?
Good luck, let us know what you have found.
Air-not usually a problem for our cars to get air in.
Fuel-does the fuel pump prime for a couple seconds when you turn the key on, does it show pressure when you put a fuel pressure guage on the fuel rail, are your injectors firing, you need a noid test light to check the injectors for their ecm signal.
Spark-are you sure you have a spark, is it strong enough, you can get a very nice spark checker from OTC, Mac, Snap-on, Matco that you hook up inline between the spark plug wire and the plug. Crank the engine over and you can unscrew a little wheel on it to widen out the gap and see how strong the spark is. This is the best way to check that you are getting a strong spark. Forget about holding a screw driver in the end of the boot and holding it near a ground to see if it jumps. That works in a pinch but not the best way.
Did I miss anything guys?
Good luck, let us know what you have found.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Richmond TX
Re: 85 won't start...help (Bluevette85)
battery voltage is around 11.6 volt according to the dash.....spark is fine...it wants to start, just won't continue to run.....spits, chugs, sputters, and dies.... :nopity
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 1
From: Shelton CT
Re: 85 won't start...help (Speedracer176)
Yea.. Sounds like a fuel issue (pump/filter).
I had the same happen to me last eyar when my pump went..
Unfortunately it started doign that ON the highway.. :crazy:
GL mate
I had the same happen to me last eyar when my pump went..
Unfortunately it started doign that ON the highway.. :crazy:
GL mate
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Richmond TX
Re: 85 won't start...help (mk842766)
ok, finally had time to check the fuel pressure...turn on the key and try to start, fuel pressure is about 30...diengage starter, fuel pressure 40, turn off key, fuel pressure drops immediately to zero......fuel pump making a hell of a racket.....so what do you think???fuel pump????? :crazy:
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Re: 85 won't start...help (mk842766)
sounds like its the pump to me... on the driver side firewall there is teh fuel pump relay. I do not recall the procedure, but you can jump it to test the pump.
But based on what you are seeing & hearing, its the fuel pump.
But based on what you are seeing & hearing, its the fuel pump.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Re: 85 won't start...help (Speedracer176)
Put the guage on the schrader, key on, pinch off fuel pressure line at the gas tank. If the pressure holds, you've got a bad check valve in the pump (pulse dampener) or bad pump..either way replace the pump. If the pressure falls, pinch off fuel return line at the tank....if it holds replace the FPR ..if it falls your injectors are probably leaking. Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Richmond TX
Re: 85 won't start...help (ittlfly)
Thanx...I'll give it a try.....new injector, so I don't think they're leaking....new AFPR, so I wouldn't suspect that either, but I'll run this check....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
From: Richmond TX
Re: 85 won't start...help (mk842766)
ok, pulled the pump on this thing(said lovingly), and here's what I found: the metal filter on the end of the pump was ripped, and appeared to be pretty saturated with some black gunk...pulled off the foam around the pump, and it seemed to be filled with some black granual pieces, thought it might be the foam degrading, but they appear hard granuals, not soft as I would expect if it was the foam. The tank appears to be pretty clean when I look down in it, but there is a white tray in the botoom where I assume the float sits, that is preety dirty with some brown looking stuff. Should I clear out the gas, and clean this, or does this tray come out for cleaning. I'm for sure going to replace the fuel filter ( only 6 months old, before I try and start this again!!! :bb
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 2
From: Latham NY
Re: 85 won't start...help (mk842766)
The tray doesn't come out. The black foam around the pump should not be falling apart. I drained my tank, let it dry out, and used a shop vac to suck up the junk that was left.
