Car won't start....help please.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 178
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From: Quakertown PA
Car won't start....help please.
My '87 has been out of inspection since October when it failed due to not having a catalytic converter. That was a nice surprise because I just bought it the prior May.
Anyway I finally decided to put one on this Saturday. First of all I do not know how to connect the small pipe that comes out the side of my cat. The cat has a crimped fitting on the end of it so I figured maybe I could just ignore it. :rolleyes:
After I put the cat on (ignoring the little tube thing) and jumped the car because the battery was dead the car ran fine. I let it run for about a half hour and then took it for a 15 minute drive to charge the battery.
The next day when I went to start the car it does not start. This time it does not seem like a dead battery. It sounds more like it is out of gas.
The trouble panel on the dash has the battery symbol lit up but I think that is always lit right? Also my battery voltage on the dash is reading about 11.
Does anyone have any ideas for me?
Anyway I finally decided to put one on this Saturday. First of all I do not know how to connect the small pipe that comes out the side of my cat. The cat has a crimped fitting on the end of it so I figured maybe I could just ignore it. :rolleyes:
After I put the cat on (ignoring the little tube thing) and jumped the car because the battery was dead the car ran fine. I let it run for about a half hour and then took it for a 15 minute drive to charge the battery.
The next day when I went to start the car it does not start. This time it does not seem like a dead battery. It sounds more like it is out of gas.
The trouble panel on the dash has the battery symbol lit up but I think that is always lit right? Also my battery voltage on the dash is reading about 11.
Does anyone have any ideas for me?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (rats87)
You need to be more specific. Does the vette turn over, but not start?
The lighted batt. symbol signifies that the batt. is in a discharge mode.
The lighted batt. symbol signifies that the batt. is in a discharge mode.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 178
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From: Quakertown PA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (Oldman)
You need to be more specific. Does the vette turn over, but not start?
Now all it does is crank. Does that help?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (rats87)
..Now all it does is crank. Does that help?...
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 178
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From: Quakertown PA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (Oldman)
If you are out of fuel, that is an easy fix. Do you know how to access any DTCs (trouble codes)?
No... I have no idea how to access the DTCs.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 415
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From: Joppa Md
Re: Car won't start....help please. (Oldman)
There should be a schrader valve(looks like a valve stem tip on your tires) Turn the key on and push it in like letting air out of a tire and see if fuel comes out. This is only an eyeball test. Better yet just get 5 gal of gas and put it in the tank. BTW is your fuel gauge reading anything?
VATS is on your ignition key...it's a small black oval shaped piece on the ignition key with a metal line through it.
VATS is on your ignition key...it's a small black oval shaped piece on the ignition key with a metal line through it.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (rats87)
This will explain trouble codes, how to access them, and remedies...
http://www.c4vettes.com/ecm.htm
http://www.c4vettes.com/ecm.htm
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 178
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From: Quakertown PA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (sumoboy)
Sumoboy thanks I will try that tonight.
Also sombody mentioned to me that I may need to disconnect my battery for 5 minutes and then reconnect to reset my ECU? Does this sound possible?
Also sombody mentioned to me that I may need to disconnect my battery for 5 minutes and then reconnect to reset my ECU? Does this sound possible?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: Norcross GA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (Oldman)
The fuel/schrader valve test,... keep your face away from it when you are pressing the valve. Face full of gas is not a good thing. :crazy: The fuel should be under 40+psi.
Your schrader vavle is on the pass side fuel rail, just in front of the distrib.
Your schrader vavle is on the pass side fuel rail, just in front of the distrib.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: Norcross GA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (ZylaRace)
Disconnect the battery,... yeah that will clear your DTC's, but I put $ on this not solving your problem.
U either guts fuel or not. U either guts spark or not.
Pull a plug, see if it is wet. Pull a wire & crank it, do you get spark?
U either guts fuel or not. U either guts spark or not.
Pull a plug, see if it is wet. Pull a wire & crank it, do you get spark?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Joppa Md
Re: Car won't start....help please. (ZylaRace)
The fuel/schrader valve test,... keep your face away from it when you are pressing the valve. Face full of gas is not a good thing. :crazy: The fuel should be under 40+psi.
Your schrader vavle is on the pass side fuel rail, just in front of the distrib.
Your schrader vavle is on the pass side fuel rail, just in front of the distrib.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Joppa Md
Re: Car won't start....help please. (rats87)
Check this page also...it has some good info on evrything C4
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti....php?TopicID=2
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti....php?TopicID=2
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 178
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From: Palm Coast Fl
Re: Car won't start....help please. (rats87)
You need to charge the battery overnite and then diagnose the fuel pump. Sounds similar to a problem I had with my 91 (except for the cats) and it turned out to be the fuel pump. (only 48,000 mi's)
There are some good posts on the site for diagnosiong the fuel pump, after you confirm weather or not you have spark!
There are some good posts on the site for diagnosiong the fuel pump, after you confirm weather or not you have spark!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 178
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From: Quakertown PA
Re: Car won't start....help please. (Red ZEE06)
Interestingly, last night when I went out to try all of the suggestions you guys mentioned the car started right up. I tried starting 4 times and absolutly no problems. Now I am in a worse position because I do not know if I can trust it. :confused:
Any ideas?
Thank you all for your help.
Any ideas?
Thank you all for your help.