New vette owner questions ????

[89blackvette]

1. What kind of lubricant to use in the ZF 6 speed?
2. How the heck does the Targa top come off?
3. Is there a good source for GM parts on line?
4. What kind of unusual problems should I expect?

I have had the car for only a few days, 1989 coupe, it has 102K miles but in very good condition except for the Service Engine Light stays on and the radiator fan runs continiously. I have look at this forum and there seems to be a lot of Vette experts here. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[JimS]

Welcome to the CAC and congrats on your new Corvette!

There is a good site www.gmpartsdirect.com where you can get most anything. Not sure about your other questions, but more members will help you out.

-JimS

 

[vettedoc]

Good luck with the new wheels. You will love it once you fix up the bugs. You will need someone to read the error codes to find out why the service engine light stays on. You came to the right place for help.

 

[Justin_cv87]

Welcome to the

 

[68Roadster]

1. What kind of lubricant to use in the ZF 6 speed?
2. How the heck does the Targa top come off?
3. Is there a good source for GM parts on line?
4. What kind of unusual problems should I expect?

Mike,
The best thing you can do is procure the GM shop manuals for your car. You can find these at swap meets, on line thru Helm's or sometimes thru the forum.

The owners manual should tell you the lubricant for the 6 speed. I'm not sure myself.
You should have a wrench in the console for the targa top. I believe there are 4 torx head bolts that hold it on. 2 in the frt and 2 in the back. If the wrench isn't there...someone has a souvenir.
Agree with Jim on the parts....that website can hook you up with just about anything, other than that there are the suppliers out there like Paragon, Last Detail, Ecklers, Volunteer Vette, Mid America. Get on the mailing lists and get the catalogs coming. It pays to shop around.

As for the fans running, I had this problem on my 85. Someone had wired the suckers to a hot wire so they never shutoff. This is where the factory manuals come in handy. The wiring diagrams can help you figure this out. You may also have a coolant sensor that is bad and forcing the fans to run all the time.

As for the codes, you should be able to ground out the connector for the computer and read the code that flashes. The factory manuals I had would tell you what each code meant and give the recommended items to check.

I'm sure others here will offer much better advice than I have. Good luck and welcome to the 'hood.

Cee

 

[*89x2*]

2. How the heck does the Targa top come off?

The car has 4 torx bolts... One on each "corner"look right above where your head sits and you will see a bolt, same for passenger side. Other 2 bolts are up in the top of the windshield header panel - about center of the sunvisor, you can feel a hole in the plastic piece in front of them - the bolt(s) are up in those holes..
Car should have come w/ the appropriate wrench for the removal of the bolts.

4. What kind of unusual problems should I expect?

I have replaced NUMEROUS alternators on my one car - far too many to count...
MAF went once, electronic AC panel went, a power seat motor died (drivers), a wheel bearing and at least 2 ecm computers...
This is all in about 45k mi.
Best dang car I have owned
Welcome to the CAC!!

 

[Moonunit 451]

89blackvette,

There should be a ratchet wrench somewhere, center console would be a good bet to take your top off. Look around. It's about 3" long.

You can get your own codes with a paper clip as far as I know. I have an 86 and I don't know about your year, but my computer conector is right above my right knee. Someone will tell you how to get the codes for your year, and what they are but I think all the codes start and end with a 12. That's 1 blink followed by 2 blinks on your check engine light . Once all codes have flashed code 12 will flash again indicating the end of the check. You have to watch and count carefully. The codes flash more than once each.
Hope this helps.

Colin

 

[89blackvette]

Thanks Guys

I just got my Shop Manual but the owners manual is back ordred, no tools of any kind came wirt the car. I do see the bolts for the top now and have located the computer connector. The manual has 2 different GM numbers for transmission lube so I am still in the bark on this. I use Mobil 1 oil and would feel good about putting it in the transmission if a couple of people could tell me wnat weigh, etc to use. Does the transmission need any kind of additive also? I understand that the 6 speeds are expensive to replace and just want to take care of it. Traced the wiring to the fan and sure enough it has been re wired to run all the time, looks like the temp sensor for it in the engine block went bad and it was just wired around, think I can fix that now. Which pin numbers do I short with the paper clip to read codes? Sorry if I get a bit long winded, thanks for the replys and your time.

 

[vigman]

Welcome!

ALDL pinout

This is for ODB style 1

F E D C B A
G H J K L M

Then this
http://www.c4vettes.com/ecm.htm

I'll find more posts on the issue!

Vig!

 

[vigman]

And the fan info

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/for...=15942&perpage=15&highlight=Fans&pagenumber=1

this should get you primed for Fan 101!

Vig!

 

[vigman]

And check your wheel bearings

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17393&highlight=Wheel+Bearing

Feeling warm & fuzzy yet?

Vig!

 

[Skant]

There have been a number of past discussions about the lubricant for the ZF 6 speed which should have all the information you're after there (and more). I recommend you do a forum search on that one. (I found the search command hard to spot. It's in the the line of links above just beneath the line of tabs at the top of the web page)

In regards to the targa top... you loosen those bolts and then lift up on the front of the top. When you install it, you set the top against the rear bolts first (so it lays on the lip at the rear) and then lay the front end of it down over the windshield frame. I recommend you have a second person to help lift the first time you do this. The top isn't too heavy for one person, but you're more likely to be a bit clumsy the first time you try it, and combined with the weight of it, bad things could happen.

You probably also don't know that the targa top can be stowed in the back of the car. There are little rails at the sides behind the seats (built into the wheel wheels). The _back_ of the targa top fits into these rails. And then the front of the targa top fits into a latch at the back of the car that's just ahead of the latch that holds the glass hatch down. Make sure that it latches down securely.

The tool that you're supposed to have is located inside your center console at the back. You'll notice a clip and an indentation for the tool there. It is literally a normal small ratchet wrench with a permanently attached torx bit which is black anodized. Not a particularly custom tool. It looks just like what you'd have in your normal generic tool set (and it could be replaced by such).

It does sound like the prior owner of your car didn't really take care of it properly though. So you should probably have a good shop scrutinize the car and take care of any jury rigs or other troubles they find.

- Skant

 

[vettl83]

Mike your ZF-6 speed holds 2.2 quarts. ZF recommends either GM lube pn # 1052931 or Castrol 10w 60 synthetic motor oil. Some have also used Redline MTL with no problems. The Castrol will have to be purchase from a BMW dealer, they use it in the M5 BMW's. It takes a 17mm hex socket to remove the fill and drain plugs. Good luck with the new ride. 84 CF 91 ZR-1

 

[c4ever]

Welcome aboard 89blackvette

Carlo

 

[RedRagTop]

Hi, welcome to I had a Service Engine Soon and it turned out to be code 34, which indicates a faulty Mass Air Flow sensor. This is the (Bosch(?)) unit located between the air box and the throttle body. The wire that senses air intake could be busted but it may be a burn-off relay (much cheaper, $20) or a false reading due to build-up or what have you. Main thing is to make SURE it is your MAF before laying out the $4-500 for one. Know a trustworthy wrench?
Do you have a stock air filter? RJS

 

[Daryllawman]

Hello and Welcome.........Pull up a chair and stay awhile.......Great People as well as their Vetts........

 

[RedRagTop]

Hello daryllawman! Interested in starting a thread related to vette ownership/operation from an owner/law enforcement point of view? I see no disrespect, only intelligent queries regarding do's and don'ts. Would this be innapropriate from your professional side?
As well, anyone see the April Motor Trend? Cover is the C6 500HP and includes 20 pages of 50 years of Corvettes. Just opening it now... RJS

 

[Daryllawman]

Hello daryllawman! Interested in starting a thread related to vette ownership/operation from an owner/law enforcement point of view? I see no disrespect, only intelligent queries regarding do's and don'ts. Would this be innapropriate from your professional side?
As well, anyone see the April Motor Trend? Cover is the C6 500HP and includes 20 pages of 50 years of Corvettes. Just opening it now... RJS

I say Go For It........Where do I sign up?

 

[RedRagTop]

It starts with a "new thread" option at forum page bottom. If you like I can start one with a title such as "20 questions for the vettecop" or "friendly advice from the lawman" or Meet a vette driving trooper", or whatever works for you. I can open the thread as I do have a couple friendly q's regarding this matter. Up to you, let me know. RJS

 

[Daryllawman]

RJS you take it away, you are the Author........whatever you do is alright with me......I just put the top down on the Vette and headed out for awhile....its been such bad weather here, now its in the top 70's......wow......I will check it out when I return.........