1992 no start/ HELP!!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: vancouver bc
1992 no start/ HELP!!
Today, the car wouldn't start. The optispark was changed a few years ago and has less than 10 000 miles on the new optispark. Car has 91000 miles
Symptoms are car was difficult to start. Finally got it started. It ran fine for a while and died again. After only 1 or two cranks the battery was dead. Jumped started the car, it idled for a short time and died on its own.
No check gauges light. Car just dies. Could it be alternator, battery, another optispark, fuel pump??
any suggestions would be appreciated. The fact the battery dies after 1 or 2 cranks leads me to altenator, but no check gauges light. Also when my optispark went, it was a no start, but when we got it started it had a very erratic idle and backfire, this time when it was running it did not do it
Symptoms are car was difficult to start. Finally got it started. It ran fine for a while and died again. After only 1 or two cranks the battery was dead. Jumped started the car, it idled for a short time and died on its own.
No check gauges light. Car just dies. Could it be alternator, battery, another optispark, fuel pump??
any suggestions would be appreciated. The fact the battery dies after 1 or 2 cranks leads me to altenator, but no check gauges light. Also when my optispark went, it was a no start, but when we got it started it had a very erratic idle and backfire, this time when it was running it did not do it
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: 1992 no start/ HELP!! (chozen1)
It sounds like you have an alternator problem, or you don't drive your vette often enough. The alternator isn't keeping the battery charged and the battery voltage drops to where it won't keep the engine running. First , charge the battery up with a battery charger (at least 2 full days). When the engine is running the battery voltage should be 14.3 volts (engine cold) and drops to 13.3 when it gets to operating temperature. Lead acid batteries show their state of charge by their terminal voltage. 13.2 volts (engine off) is fully charged and 12.0 volts or below, discharged. Measure the battery voltage at the battery terminals. The dash voltmeter reads about 0.3 volts low due to the voltage drop across the ignition switch contacts. And....NO don't expect the alternator to fully charge your battery up from dead because first it takes a long time to charge a dead battery up (longer than you normally drive your vette) , and the charging current is so high at first that it makes the alternator run very hot and shortens its life. If you don't have one, maybe a neighbor has a battery charger, or go buy one.
[Modified by jfb, 9:10 AM 6/22/2003]
[Modified by jfb, 9:10 AM 6/22/2003]
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: vancouver bc
Re: 1992 no start/ HELP!! (chozen1)
this am with jump start, car started. battery gauges show 14.3 volt. The car ran fine and drove for a few miles. The car then died again. Alternator and battery appear to be fine. The opti was changed not too long ago. could it be that again. Computer (was changed a couple of times already, last one was 4 years ago) Water pump, coil were changed 6 years ago.
When the car ran, it ran perfect. When it warmed it would not start again.
Will have to have it towed to a shop that deals with corvettes. The one it was at for battery are not comfortable dealing with vettes
No check engine or service engine lights.
When the car ran, it ran perfect. When it warmed it would not start again.
Will have to have it towed to a shop that deals with corvettes. The one it was at for battery are not comfortable dealing with vettes
No check engine or service engine lights.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Re: 1992 no start/ HELP!! (chozen1)
Once you deplete the battery like you have it takes the stuffing right out of them. You may be in for a new battery for starters. I would connect a fuel pressure guage to the schrader, tape it to the windshield and take the car around the block. It sounds like the fp may be on its way out....and when was the last time you changed the fuel filter?
