Stalling and Rough Idle

[Patrick]

For about a week now, I've been experiencing a problem at start up during cold start situations. The engine will turn over, but immediately stalls. I can cure this if I give it some gas right after I turn and release the ignition key, but I have to keep giving it gas for a few minutes, revving it higher than normal, until the engine has warmed up. If I don't do this, it will continue to stall.

Even if I do give it some gas, and prevent it from stalling, it idles rough when, for instance, I stop at a light and the car is in drive. The RPM meter dips very low, and there's a noticeable shake in the car.

I called today and scheduled a service appointment. The Tech suggested that he thinks it could be the fuel pump. CAC's knowledge base has one Service Bulletin for 1991-92 Corvettes regarding fuel pumps. Mind you, I'm not sure the fuel pump is the issue. The Tech also mentioned the breather element.

My vette is a '91 with 48,000 miles. I took delivery of it in August, 2002, and unfortunately, I have no service records concerning it's history prior to when I got it.

So, the question is, what does everyone here think the problem is, and, for budgetary purposes, how much would you guess it's likely to cost? (I don't want to sound cheap, I'm just trying to budget for a potential repair.)

Thanks,
Patrick

 

[Topless]

Curiosity, where are you taking it?

How cold is it outside when this is happening?

Low fuel pressure, maybe. Air idle control sticking? (ok..thats my guess... next?.. anyone?)

 

[Patrick]

Topless,
Good to hear from another Coloradan! Since you also live in the Denver area, you know what the weather has been like this past week. We had kind of cold snap on the 15th and 16th, and the 16th was the first time it happened. In the past 10 or so days, it seems to happen every morning at start up, and the mornings have been anywhere from 17 degrees to 40 degrees. It happened again this morning, and today was the warmest day in January in Colorado I can remember.

Where am I taking it- primarily to work first thing in the AM. That's part of my problem- my commute is only about four miles, so there's very little warm up time. (Parker, relative to the Denver area, is still comfortably small in size.)

What would account for low fuel pressure?

-Patrick

 

[Da Hawaiian Punch]

I'm Having a very simular problem right now also!! I to have a '91. I've changed the fuel pump, and that did'nt do it for me! I've changed almost every thing that I could change. from the IAC to the plugs and wires, still having the problem,....Ive had this problem now for about 3 to 4 months now!!! I noticed today that my throttle plate, butter fly shaft is loose, it wobbles around when it's not supposed to, and I'm betting that thats where my problem lies, a vacum leak at the throttle body through the shafts!! I'll get back to you to let you know if thats what my problom was, and hopefully, it'll help you with yours!! I'll be in touch! Aloha!

 

[Patrick]

Kalani,
My sister used to live in Honalulu, when her ex was stationed at Scofield Barracks. She loved it, but she said the island fever became intolerable- only so many places you can go on an island. She and her ex moved back here in '98, when he left the service, after being there for only two years. I wonder if paradise can be TOO green?

I'm curious- how much do you figure you've invested so far in trying to solve this problem?

-Patrick

 

[Topless]

Alohas..
Patrick- a weak fuel pump could cause low pressure, but I would they tend to fail more than just get weak. (at least the electric ones) Fuel pressure should be easy to check though (and cheap).

Actually, I was wondering where you are going to take it for service?

If you see a white covertible with a hard top, it is probably me. (The "Hawaiian Style" sticker in the back window is a dead give away) I work in the Tech center.

I lived on Oahu for a couple years. I loved it. No island fever. I would love to move back. Matsumoto shave ice is reason enough! Tako poki, Malasadas, Lau Lau....da list goes on.

 

[Patrick]

Mike,
I'll keep an eye out for you. I have a red '91 coupe, and I've tinted the windows black.

I'm taking the vette to Ed Bozarth in Lone Tree for service. Primarily because he's close... unless you can recommend someone else.

-Patrick

 

[Da Hawaiian Punch]

Kalani,
My sister used to live in Honalulu, when her ex was stationed at Scofield Barracks. She loved it, but she said the island fever became intolerable- only so many places you can go on an island. She and her ex moved back here in '98, when he left the service, after being there for only two years. I wonder if paradise can be TOO green?

I'm curious- how much do you figure you've invested so far in trying to solve this problem?

-Patrick

COred91 yeah I can under stand that island fever thing, I've had a few friends compain about the same thing, whats funny is that theres a lot more to Hawaii then just this island that I live on (Oahu), some poeple forget that theres other islands to visit, Maui, Big island of Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. That can cure the fever really fast!!! Have you ever been here your self to visit? if not you should have takin advantage of your sisters presents in Hawaii!!

 

[Da Hawaiian Punch]

Alohas..
Patrick- a weak fuel pump could cause low pressure, but I would they tend to fail more than just get weak. (at least the electric ones) Fuel pressure should be easy to check though (and cheap).

Actually, I was wondering where you are going to take it for service?

If you see a white covertible with a hard top, it is probably me. (The "Hawaiian Style" sticker in the back window is a dead give away) I work in the Tech center.

I lived on Oahu for a couple years. I loved it. No island fever. I would love to move back. Matsumoto shave ice is reason enough! Tako poki, Malasadas, Lau Lau....da list goes on.

Eh, howzit TOPLESS!! You from here, or just became a native by heart after living here? Either way, Good to hear from you! Reading your reponse to CORed91 made me hungry, so I asked my wife if we can go to the L&L drive inn and get some grinds!! So if I dont respond back for a few hours....you know why! I'll eat something for you!! Welcome back home!! ( Maybe not physically but Spiritually)

 

[Patrick]

I had a vacation during spring break in college in 1990- I went to Oahu and the Big Island. Wonderful trip. My one regret is not making it to the top of Mt. Kiloeauah (spelling?)

Actually, my sister doesn't live there now. She moved back about five years ago. I'd love to go back for a vacation, but only after I satisfy my need to get in touch with my ethnos and visit Ireland. Everyone else in the family has been there and raves about it. I understand I have relatives in Galway. Then again, there's the Guiness Stout on tap...

But I digress. Which island would you most recommend for visitors as a "must see?"

Another question- have you ever been to Colorado? The skiing this year is the best we've had in several years.

-Patrick

 

[Da Hawaiian Punch]

I had a vacation during spring break in college in 1990- I went to Oahu and the Big Island. Wonderful trip. My one regret is not making it to the top of Mt. Kiloeauah (spelling?)

Actually, my sister doesn't live there now. She moved back about five years ago. I'd love to go back for a vacation, but only after I satisfy my need to get in touch with my ethnos and visit Ireland. Everyone else in the family has been there and raves about it. I understand I have relatives in Galway. Then again, there's the Guiness Stout on tap...

But I digress. Which island would you most recommend for visitors as a "must see?"

Another question- have you ever been to Colorado? The skiing this year is the best we've had in several years.

-Patrick

Hmmm. Kauai, and Maui Those would be the island's with the most beauty!! I've never been to Colorado, I do have a very close friend who lives there though! Micheal Dupio is his name, he lives in Lakewood on meadowlark drive. know where that is? K-i-l-a-u-e-a I believe is how it's spelled, I could be wrong to! I'm one of the worst spellers ever in mankinds history!!!

 

[Patrick]

K-i-l-a-u-e-a I believe is how it's spelled

I'll take your word as the resident expert. This sort of reminds me of the movie "Honeymoon in Vegas" with Nick Cage asking "Is that Ka-pa-ah-ah, or Ka-pa-ah-ah-ah-ah?"

Well, the bad news is it went through the stalling routine this morning. The worse news is we've had a cold front move in on us, so the temps are hovering around 34 degrees and it's overcast. So, even though I drove it to work this morning, sitting in the parking lot, it didn't warm up in the sun. Therefore... stalled again when I went to go for lunch.

I'm beginning to think it is the fuel pump. I guess what I'd like is a reasonable estimate so that I know I'm not being rooked by the dealer when I take it in later this week.

-Patrick

 

[silver 80]

EGR?
kinda sounds like it.
tom

 

[Patrick]

Tom,
EGR? What is it, and why do you think so?

-Patrick

 

[sumoboy]

Check for any vacuum leaks, check dist. cap and rotor for cracks. Fuel pressure regulator and see if the throttle body is dirty.

Went to Hawaii in Nov. visit relatives stay for free. Uncle lives in Aiea next to the stadium. Good swap meet there. Eat Spam Eggs and Rice at McDs.:dance

 

[Patrick]

Well, it happened again this morning. Not really a surprise.

My service appointment is Friday morning. So, the plan is to take the vette up to the dealer Thursday afternoon, so that it can spend the night in the dealer's garage. The reason I want to do this is so that they can directly experience the cold start stalling themselves first thing Friday morning. By leaving it there Thursday night, it will not have an opportunity to warm up on the drive over Friday morning.

The more I think about this, and experience the symptoms, the more convinced I am that this is the fuel pump. The drop off in revs, the rough idle and the stalling only occurs when the car is started from having sat for several hours, and it becomes most noticeable when I'm sitting at a light in traffic (ie, not giving it any gas.)

I'll keep you updated with what the dealer finds.

-Patrick

 

[Da Hawaiian Punch]

Check for any vacuum leaks, check dist. cap and rotor for cracks. Fuel pressure regulator and see if the throttle body is dirty.

Went to Hawaii in Nov. visit relatives stay for free. Uncle lives in Aiea next to the stadium. Good swap meet there. Eat Spam Eggs and Rice at McDs.:dance

I used to live in aiea, across from pearl ridge and pali momi hospital. Wish that I would have known that you were going to be in the area, we could have met.

 

[Patrick]

Follow up...

Turns out what I had was a bad idle sensing valve. Had it replaced, and my baby is doing just fine now.

Total cost: about $200.00

 

[Topless]

Mahalo.
L&L? ho, bra...dose grins stay onos
No, not kama'aina, only in spirit. I hung out with da kine from Hawai'i, Samoa, and Tonga. Hawai'i is the only place I ever felt at home. I am going to listed to HSB and Frank DeLima on the way home now.

Patrick....
That Ed Bozarth has gotten a lot better (about a year and a half ago they introduced a gremlin to my vette that no one has been able to get rid of after a year of looking a whole lot of $$$). I take my to the other on in Aurora. It was recommended by Chevrolet Customer Care (or what ever you call them). As for Steve Price. He used to be a regional engineer for GM. He worked on the Vettes.

Glad you found a fix though. That is the important part.

BTW...do you belong to a club?


(I want huli huli chicken!) Oh, and Kilauea is correct. The other ones get harder...
humuhumunukunukuapua'a
now thats a word!

 

[Patrick]

Mele Kalimaka.
(Sorry... that's the only Hawaiian I know.)

How about I sing a chorus of "Tiny Bubbles?"

Yes, Topless, the fix worked flawlessly. She fires up with a vengence now, hungry for the prowl. Now, if we can get some decent (snowless) weather to stick around, she's be very happy with me. I hate that March and April are our snowiest months, and we're just SLOWLY approaching them.

To answer your question, no, I have not joined a corvette club. Have you? Any recommendations? I attended a meeting of the Looking Glass Corvette Club... I was the youngest person in the room by easily 20 years. Yikes.

-Patrick