Should this thing be this fast?

[RedRagTop]

Hi all! Just went through about 1/2 the forum stuff, lots of great tips. I bought a 1988 L98 Z51 with an auto. Couple probs, SES light on intermittantly, bit of pulsing in ABS but I think the forums gave me some ideas, more appreciated. Took off on ride before parked for winter (been -40F here for past 6 weeks or so) and when pulled second under power rear end went right out into next lane in an instant before let off and brought back. Is this normal for a L98 running 17" 285's? (50% wear, will replace in spring). Used to driving bro's 68 427/425 and bud's 66 327/350 but didn't expect this and they don't believe it! Anyone else get this kind of juice from one of these? Car is a rag with about 60,ooo miles and I got for about 9 grandUS. Looks like new but for bit of wear to leather 6-ways. Will bring pic to post. RJS in Northern Canada and waiting for spring.

 

[Justin_cv87]

Welcome to the and yes, vettes are supposed to be fast

 

[Mad-Mic]

my 87 stock coupe breaks loose very easily in 2nd gear. Z52 package auto 2.59 rear gear. even sometimes it will do it at 90mph hitting 3rd gear

 

[jmccloud]

This fast?

My 95 LT1 auto is straight as an arrow on dry, not really cold blacktop.
Any other surface or near zero degrees and it gets really squirrellllllllllly. Even a light coating of salt (deicer) on the road brings a whole new set of rules.

 

[sleepyhead]

Hi, RJSROCKET...and welcome to the forum. You may want to check the information in your profile (Corvette Ownership)... Either the '5' and the 'R' keys are very close to one another on the keyboard or you have one insanely rare car! But my guess is on the former. :Roll

 

[Vanity Plate Bob]

Welcome. -40 is enough to make anything, anybody jump.

 

[RedRagTop]

Yes, I see where I entered incorrect info. It is a Z52 (sport handling package). I only mentioned it as there were only 1300 or so equipped with this. I got the window sticker from Bowling Green. Amazed it went for $56,000 plus in 88 (that's Canadian, not sure in real money). Forgot to mention the slight mods, K&N filter (Think this has anything to do with the SES, just oiled it) the power chip and the stainless free-flows. Still surprised at the snot, have to be careful with this thing next summer (still like three months away) as I've only put about 600 miles on it since bought. Wonder why vettes seem to be cheaper up here? Common bucks for a late 80's rag or coupe here is around 8 to 9 $US. How about there? Might be something to do with the 4-5 month driving season...
Could someone list sequence of steps to post a pic on forum I.D. area?
Thanks, from a fumble -fingered Canuck
(by the way, don't think all Canadians aren't backing you guys just because of what that embarrassing leader/looser of ours is trying to convey)

 

[vettl83]

RJSROCKET, welcome to the forum. Cold tires, cold blacktop, L-98 torque, and possibly the lower geared performance axle can spell yikes when you reef on it at -40. Hell any temps below +30 can get ya. Good luck with your Vette. 84 CF 91 ZR-1

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

My L98 with mild mods chirps the tires on the 2-3 shift on hot tarmac. You ZR1 guys have a bunch more HP than me at 5000rpm. I´ll bet a power shift at -40º in that car brings the pucker-factor up a few notches.

 

[jmccloud]

Post Pic in Author ID Area

RJSROCKET,
Prepare a Pic for email; 72dpi or so and about 2" wide/tall. Save it on your hard drive.
Go to your user profile. An easy way to find it is to click on your name in one of your posts.
Scroll down and on the left there's a link for "you edit profile" click
At the top of the next window, click "Profile Photo Utility"
Follow the instructions to upload the Pic.
Good luck,
John

 

[rdgfx3]

SYS.
My 90 L98 did this when the battery had gone dead or near dead.

Diehard was a joke.It got so bad that if the door was open for a few minutes with the interior lights on it was click click click.....And this was after only a few months.

Never again.No more Diehard batteries will I buy.:nono

Spiral cell technology for me now.:JI can leave the doors open for hours now.Thank goodness because of my recent interior light problem,I really would have seen SYS a lot.

Anyway,when my SYS message popped up,it always coincided with a battery or alternator issue.



Worth mentioning?
I accidently put my tires and wheels on against rotational direction(I had them on backwards)and my rear end would get squirrely like that too.When I put them on properly,the problem went away.

 

[RedRagTop]

I don't actually drive it below about 50F and it has been parked since Nov:cry
Day in question where it almost looped was about 65F on fairly rough, dry ashphalt. Bought a burn-off relay for the MAF (cheap at $25) as the service bullitens have recommended this. I didn't see the SES light until I oiled the K&N, and some guys have opined that there may have been some excess oil sucked onto the wire...
Also strong (more than normal) back-pulse from the brake on occasion, something about non-corroding stuff to be applied to ABS sensors (?) Any info appreciated....
RJS

 

[rdgfx3]

SYS info from GM 1990 Corvette Service Manual:

"A code setting faultin any of the CCM monitored systems is indicated by'SYS'(SYSTEM ERROR)flashing in the instrument cluster trip monitor.If a fault does not recur within 100 ignition cycles the CCM will automatically clear the code."
"The 'SYS'indicator will flash three times every 15 seconds while a fault is present .An exception to the 'SYS'fault is that VATS faults will be indicated by the security lamp being illuminated,rather than the 'SYS' indicator flashing."

Hmmmm...
Here's some more info.

Some of the CCM monitored systems are:

Ambient Light Signal Processing

Chime Control

Courtesy Lamp Control

Dimming Control
Instrument Cluster LCD Backlighting
Instrument Cluster Gauges Backlighting
LCD Backlighting(Radio,HVAC)
LED Indicator Dimming
High Beam Indicator Dimming

Driver Information Center (DIC)Switches
Trip Odometer Reset
Average Fuel Economy Reset
Display Fuel Range
Display Normal/Trip Odometer
English/Metric Mode Selection
On-Board Diagnostics Control
Engine Oil Life Monitor Reset

Fuel Level Detection/Processing

I/P LCD Digit Display
Fuel Level
Vehicle Speed
Trip Odometer
Normal Odometer
Fuel Range
Instant Fuel Economy
Avg Fuel Economy

Rear Defog Control

Normal Odometer Processing

Status Warnings
Battery Overvoltage/Undervoltage
Engine Coolant Overtemperature
Engine Oil Overtemperature
Fuel Level Low

System Component Fault Detection

Sytem Diagnostics Processor/Controller

Trip Computer Processing
Instantaneous Fuel Economy
Avg Fuel Economy
Fuel Range
Trip Odometer

UART Serial Communications Master

UTD Control(Theft Deterrent)

Vehicle Speed Detection/Processing

Vehicle Anti-Theft System(VATS)

References are from page 8D-2 1990 Service Manual

Whoosh.:z

That wore me out
Hope it helps.

 

[RedRagTop]

Hello rgdfx3, I appreciate the effort, should have mentioned the code 34 I (I think it was 34 or 33/32) but anyway when we hooked reader up to plug mentioned this code has to do with a faulty Mass Air Flow Sensor which is mucho expensive at about $700+ canadian from GM. Usually this is not the cause for the Service Engine Soon light that comes on intermittantly. The burn-off relay(s) may be cooked or the wire in MAF could be contaminated with oil from the K&N (so I'm told) so after this non-ending winter ends I will be checking out a few angles. It is going to -38F here again tonight so will be researching for a bit yet.
See ya RJS

 

[rdgfx3]

Oof.I can't help ya with that.My '90 has the Speed/Density setup.
No Mass Airflow Meter.

Kinda sucks cause I can't do ANY substantial modifications without reburning a custom chip for the ECM.

 

[rdgfx3]

Actually I wasn't finished but the first part got posted.Fat Finger I guess.I'm not. 185lbs.

Anyway....

So my manual doesn't have any info regarding codes for the mass airflow meters.

Sorry.