Doctor In The House? Tuneup Question

[Bonnell]

Hi,

My '88 Vette misses pretty badly when I load it (accelerate rapidly). It seems that this may be caused by a number of things.

1) Any suggestions on the cause of the missing?
2) The Chevy dealership has changed the computer ($325+ - really needed? - forum members say no). They suggest a tuneup. This is what they say it consists of:

a. Replace plugs and plug wires
b. Change fuel filter
c. Set timing
d. Replace distrubutor cap (does it even have one???)
e. Add fuel injector additive

Cost: $327

I don't know how to set the timing or change the fuel filter and I did not even think that it had a distributor.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

J

 

[tntcorvette]

basic tune up consist of

air filter
change antifreeze/thermostat (if thermo. necessaary)
fuel filter
pcv valve
clean throttle body with carb cleaner
check iac valve
check fuel pressure/fuel system

I dont have my service manual in front of me...does your car's service engine soon light come on?

 

[evolution]

Could be a failing fuel pump as well. Does it sputter out or quit running altogether on WOT?

 

[vigman]

Review

1) Any suggestions on the cause of the missing?
Could be a great many things
2) The Chevy dealership has changed the computer ($325+ - really needed? - forum members say no).
Why did they do that FIRST...bad call there...If the car runs the same before & after.. get you old one back ( or a credit ) UNLESS your check engine light wasn't functioning correctly.



They suggest a tuneup. This is what they say it consists of:
SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS FIRST!

a. Replace plugs and plug wires
b. Change fuel filter
c. Set timing
d. Replace distrubutor cap (does it even have one???) Yes it does where all good Chevy small blocks had em.. at the back of the engine. It's being covered by a plate which is part of the intake plenum.. this did not go away till.. 91 or 92?
e. Add fuel injector additive

Cost: $327 ( Sounds steep!)

You know, you could do MOST of this stuff yourself

I don't know how to set the timing or change the fuel filter and I did not even think that it had a distributor.

You'll learn here.. If you have the interest & tools.

Any suggestions?

Good Luck

Vig!
( Now turn your head & cough)!

 

[evolution]

Re: Review

( Now turn your head & cough)!

:L :L :L :L :L :L

 

[vigman]

Well it's better than the dealer phrase

BEND OVER AND COUGH!

 

[Bonnell]

Tune Up

the computer was replaced because the idle became wildy erratic and the car wouldn't idle. The computer corrected that.

The car does not stall or quit. It has a strange sporadic miss at idle but the main symptom is that it stutters badly if I accelerate hard.

Does this car have a distributor? Is setting the timing a reasonably simple operation?

Thanks for the posts.

 

[rrubel]

This may sound dumb, but have you made sure all the spark plugs are firmly connected? Had an identical issue on another car and it turned out one was not... It was on well enough to usually fire the cylinder, but sounded odd at idle and missed at WOT.

Regarding setting timing, you'll need a timing light (Sears makes a decent one for about $50, or mooch one like I do ), a 'distributor wrench' (available at any auto store - there's a GM model and a Ford model... I won't tell you which one to get) to loosen the distributor, and a small allen wrench to take the trim plate off the distributor (which, as Vig said, is at the back of the motor in the very center behind the intake plenum - the large silver box on top).

The timing gun should come with basic directions on what to look for amd how to use it; on the L98 you turn the distributor slightly to advance or retard timing. Someone else here wrote a tutorial on setting the timing maybe a year ago...

If you enjoy getting your hands dirty, buy a copy of either the Haynes Corvette Repair book or the factory service manual for your year. The Haynes has the timing procedure in it.

[RICHR]

 

[tntcorvette]

yes the car has a distributor. Its at the back of the motor where all distributors are located. Its just covered up by 3 small screws (I think torx). You should see the spark plug wires running to the rotor from the spark plugs.

Its easy to set the timing. You need to jump the #1 spark plug wire, and pull the esc circuit (its a wire on the driver side firewall...mabey somebody can post a pic of what to look for).

THen you loosen the distributor hold down clamp start the car and point the timing light at the timing marks on the balancer.

Easy as pie. When you are finished plug the esc wire back up and unplug the battery to clear the code (ses light should flash when you pull the esc wire). Then plug it back up, tighten everything down and you should be fine.

 

[vettedoc]

Re: Well it's better than the dealer phrase

BEND OVER AND COUGH!

Vigman-

Are you practicing medicine without a license again????



By the way, we are both May 15th men!!!

 

[vigman]

License what license?

.... we dont need no stinkin license.

( at least here @ CAC)

and practice makes perfect!


YAHOO another Bull in Glass!


Vig!