Say it ain't so, PLEASE

[Bonnell]

Hi Everyone,

I recently posted concerning my 1988 Vette 'missing' (surging would almost seem a better description) when I accelerate hard.

I do not have a lot of faith in my local Chevy dealership so I contacted a dealer in Little Rock (I work in LR) and asked if they had anyone there knowledgeable concerning Corvettes. I described my problem and the first thing that he asked was if I had recently had to add coolant. He said that sometimes the water pump leaks and ruins some kind of spark module (a coil-like device). He said that that is the most common cause of symptoms like I described.

I have not had to add any coolant. I have not checked the coolant level but the car seems to run at normal temps (186-190 cruising, at a stop in warm weather it will reach 229 then the fan turns on and cools it to about 200 or a little below).

When asked what this module cost, he said $1000.

Say it ain't so!!! What is the likelihood?

Thanks,

J

 

[vette-dude]

Sounds like this dealer was talking about the optispark dist. system. I don't believe you have that on an 88 vette. You should have a regular HEI type ignition Dist. I nwould say you have other problems maybe like the egr valve ( does it hunt at an idle?), fuel delivery problems, plugged cats, etc. How long since you tuned it up, (i.e., plugs, wires, cap, rotor?). Maybe someone here can give you a better idea of what it might be but it is not an optispark system and you should be happy about that.

Randy

 

[JonM]

I would run...not walk away from the Little Rock dealer...As noted above, you don't have an optispark. However it could be a number of things...have you changed the fuel filter? (located under the car on the frame below the car door) Also check fuel pressure. As Randy noted...need more information.

 

[vigman]

Running is good

Getting on your motorcycle and going FAST is better ( away from there )

1988 has NO Optispark!

So that being said.....
Give us a COMPLETE series of symptoms
(again) .

I assume you are mechanically inclined?

Get you car back home.. an we can sus it out here for you!

Vig!

 

[Interceptor430]

I had a similar problem on a different chevy once upon a time.
It would idle fine, and run decent at normal pedal push, but when
romped on, it would choke, sputter, etc. The problem was in the fuel line. The hose was cracked, and upon WOT, the fuel pump(at the engine) would suck the fuel and AIR thru the cracked hose.
Also, a clogged fuel filter will cause this type of behavior too.

Testing the fuel pressure at varied rpms should give a great clue.

 

[Bonnell]

Say it ain't so...

As always, I really appreciate the help. I am really gunshy of the local dealers. Here is a summary of my car...

I lease/purchased the car - 1988 White L98 with 89K miles. The car is in good condition. It rides well, has no rattles at all, seems really tight. I do not have any real history except that it seems it must have been in storage for a while. I received the car in November and within a day it displayed the "Service Engine Soon' message.

The local Chevy dealer checked the car and found no problem. He said that if I experienced further problems, I'd probably need to replace the computer.

The next day, the car would not idle at all. It would rev then quit. I got it going and kept my foot on the gas well enough to get it to the dealer. They changed the computer and it pretty much fixed the problem except that the car kept trying to idle lower and it would hit 500 rpm and quit - not all the time but at the worst possible times. I was told to adjust the minimum idle control(?). I did this and it idles well for the most part. It simply misses once every few seconds (maybe not getting gas?).

I purchased an IAC to put on it but was unable to remove the old one using a socket. I have since had another forum member instruct me to remove the throttle boby first (he indicated that it is no big deal doing so). I intend to do that soon.

Now, as I explained earlier, the car misses when I accelerate hard (it seems to be 2200 and higher). I am able to drive it but it is getting worse.

I have not yet tuned it up as I don't think that I have the expertise to do all that seems to be involved. I intend to have it tuned up tomorrow unless you feel that is not the issue.

Otherwise, I have no idea how long it has been since it was tuned last.

I have changed the air filter and checked for any blockage or leakage in the air intake system. I have the oil changed using Mobil 1 oil and filter.

In the defense of the Little Rock dealer, I am sure that I talked with a service scheduler and he did say that he would have to check to see if the 1988 model used the Optispark.

Even if it had an Optispark, isn't $1000 a little high?

Thanks for your help.

 

[JonM]

One other thing you need to do real quick...grab a paper clip and bend it into a "U" shape...You need to short the ALDL (that little gizmo above your right knee sitting in the car) Take the paper clip and slide it into the two TOP-RIGHT connectors...Then turn the key ON (DO NOT START) You need to look at the check engine light on the dashboard...It will flash...The sequence is flash(1)..pause...flash.flash(2)....It will do that three times. Now after the code 12...if you have any other codes stored it will flash...for instance...a code 22 and a code 34 would then flash three times each X= one flash.- =pause
.
(x-xx x-xx x-xx) (xx-xx xx-xx xx-xx) (xxx-xxxx xxx-xxxx xxx-xxxx)
.
(x-xx x-xx x-xx)

When complete, it flashes code 12 again three times

 

[vigman]

Things to do in order

1) Jon's suggestion.. get the trouble codes. Note here a trouble code indicates a part is BROKE...not out of spec (typically) but just flat out DOA!

2) Post codes here ( we will decode em for you.) OR you can buy a haynes manual ( as a starter book) to start learing about your BABY.

3) Repair ( or replace ) code issues as needed.

4) Tune up & fuel filter

 

[boblx2a]

This sound very similar to what I went through with my '86. I wound up having the tranny rebuilt and then it ran okay for a day or two but coming home from work one night it stopped altogether so I had it towed to the tranny shop only to learn that the real problem (and probably had been from the start) was clogged cats! So in addition to paying $1500.00 for the tranny rebuild I had to pay another $1000.00 to a muffler shop to replace all three cats and the "Y" pipe. Right! I have since learned the error of my ways!

After sitting over night or for a weekend it would run rather normal for a time unless you romped on it then it would sputter and die, etc.
However 86K is not hardly enough miles to have plugged cats unless something bad is wrong like an anti-freeze leak or badly worn valve guides, etc.


Good luck with it...........

 

[89blkvet]

I too have right now the similar problem. The car gets a little warm, about 5-10 miles from the house and dies. Let it sit for a while, fires right back up. Man, I have changed sooo many things, ECM fuel pump, relay and filter, oil change, new air filter, etc. SAME problem. Its getting embarresing have the car towed home 2-3 times a week. Took it to a shop, the car ran fine there for about an hour. I ended up driving it home and for 2 whole days, it ran good. Now the last 2 days, me and the tow truck driver are on a first name basis. Anyhow, I was told it MAY be the catyletic convertors. Before I dump the cash, any suggestions for me as well??

 

[boblx2a]

My suggestion is to do it yourself! Years later I learned the error of my ways. I am not sure how much different an '89 is from an '86 but the '86 exhaust system is amazingly simple. You take off 3 bolts on each header, unscrew the pipe from the vacum pump, disconnect the 02 senser, and another couple of bolts for the main cat and the rear pipes and the whole thing slides out from under the car in one piece. I may have missed a bolt or so but it took me about 45 minutes to disconnect the whole thing. By far the hardest part was getting the car up off of the garage floor! That way when you get done you don't have a bunch of pipes all welded together so you can never again work on them. Because that is the first thing a muffler shop does.
Also you may be able to get by without the pre-cats, not sure if the '89 had them. Mine flew through DEQ without them. I will never take a Vette to another muffler shop. I could have done that $1000.00 job for less then $400.00. In additon I wound up doing it again anyway because I removed the 2 cat "Y" pipe later on and replaced it with an '85 "Y" pipe. Just for off road of course!

Hope this helps............

 

[89blkvet]

Well you know, I had no idea that there were a total of 3 cats on the car. Are the both pre cats really necessary. Especially here in California, the smog police would probably not pass me, right?? Is there a way that I can check the cats myself??

 

[boblx2a]

If you have a way of checking exhaust pressure you can check them yourself. Otherwise I guess you have to disconnect them and look into the opening to see if they are plugging up. Or else take the car somewhere where they can do it.

Yeah if they do that hardware check routine they would catch you. I am not even sure that your car has the pre-cats. They began in '86, my '85 does not have them. That is why I put an '85 "Y" pipe on the '86. You buy the "Y" pipe to fit your car and it comes with cats if the car is suppose to have them. Turns out a '85 "Y" pipe fits right onto a '86. Don't know if it would fit on an '89 and I also don't know if you could get away with it. They aren't a lot of use once the engine warms up they are basically used to provide cat action until the main cat warms up enough to become effective. That's why my '86 breezes righ through DEQ. But in this state they don't look at the hardware they just look at the results. If the car passes they don't care how loud it is or anything else, only whether it passed or failed their test.

That is the way it should be. (IMHO!)

 

[vigman]

88 has three kitty's

Two options..no wait 3... er 3.5

1) Mid America sells the Y pipe with the pre cats $250.00ish

2) I had all 3 cats replaced for under $700.00 SHOP AROUND!

3) you can have the local muffler shop do a back pressure test.. they drill a few small holes in key locations in your exhaust system and hook a pressure gauge up... if you get OVER ( and I forgot the #) PSI ahead of the cat your PLUGGED UP!

Usually $50.00 and most good shops will credit that amount back twds your purchase.

If the cats plug... the car looses it's deep rumbly tone.. and has a definate vacuume cleaner sound to it.


Vig!

 

[vigman]

Oh and if your caught with the WRONG SMOG STUFF

And the guy's a PRICKLY PEAR.. you could face fines UP TO the price of a NEW C-5 ( or 2) and time in the BIG HOUSE!

In CA DO NOT TRY THIS! It is NOT worth the risk.



Vig!

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

I live in LR

Like others have said, there is no opti-spark on the '88s. My '96's waterpump started leaking out the weep hole hinting to an impending failure and I had it repaired under warranty. If you can't figure it out, let me recommend the most knowledgable Corvette mechanic I know of in our local area...Go to Gwatney Chevrolet in Jacksonville and ask to talk to John the Corvette guy. I don't recall his last name off hand, but they will know who you are talking about. When you enter the service department, Steve Wait knows who I am. Just tell him Mike Kennedy with the black '96 reffered you.
A little background on Johnny...He owns a classic Corvette, he's been working on Corvettes for most of his professional life as far as I can remember, he built the C4 Corvette that stomped the Vipers in the Viper shoot out a few years ago (late model C4, blue, it was on all the car mags) Has many hi-po cars and trucks under his belt.
When I had mine in for the water pump, he replaced my opti-spark unit for free just to be sure I wouldn't have any problems out of it. (He had a spare laying around) He knows his stuff! Today when I had mine in for an oil change, he had an '88 Convertable and his old '60 something (I didn't get a good look at it, so I don't know what year it is) in there. He has experience on ZR1s and Callaways to boot.
Hope this helps ya!

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

Oh yeah...

Just out of curiousity, which Chevy dealer did you take it to? I happen to have some contacts at one of the larger dealerships in the area

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

Bonnel, I just looked at your profile...what type of martial arts do you study?
I wish I had some connections up in the Conway area so you wouldn't have to travel so far. John really is the best I've found around here though.