SYS light flashing - just replaced battery.

[Paul Higg]

Jake, HOLY #@%$&*!

What happened, a fire? A wreck then a fire? Good grief.

 

[JAKE]

Jake, HOLY #@%$&*!

What happened, a fire? A wreck then a fire? Good grief.

I got in the car and started the engine, planning to go to the store. Engine felt a little rough so I blipped the throttle a couple of times but didn't give it much more thought (even though it had never done that before.)

I put the shifter in reverse and began to back out of my parking space when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a wisp of smoke coming from the area between the hood and windshield wipers. So I put the shifter in Park, left the engine idling and pulled the hood release.

I then got out and raised the hood. As soon as I did BOOM!!!!!!!

Flames jumped at least ten feet into the air. Singed my hair, eyebrows and mustache before I could jump back. I tried beating out the fire with a towel I had in the car: NO GOOD. A guy came buy with a fire extinguisher so I gave that a try: NO GOOD. The fire kept growing and growing.

I called 911 to report the fire but it took the FD at least 20 minutes to respond (The truck was in Dallas fighting a warehouse fire). By the time they arrived both front tires, windshield, and rear hatch glass had exploded, fire ate its way all the way to the rear hatch area consuming everything in between: Engine, dash, steering wheel, seats, door panels, carpeting, etc., etc.

So now I'm just waiting for the insurance settlement check and, in the meantime I've been searching for a replacement. I've found three likely candidates so far.

That's about it. Oh, it happened on 10 Mar at about 4:30 PM. When I did the autopsy two days later, I found the fuel supply line on the passenger side of the engine was still leaking, so that was the cause and why the fire kept getting bigger.

SH** HAPPENS!

Jake

 

[Paul Higg]

You're a lucky man Jake to make it out alive. It could have been much worse for you.

Cars can be replaced but people are a different story.

I hope you find another replacement and it is as good or better than your old one.

What a story.

 

[JAKE]

I've got four lined up to look at next week. One's a 95, same color as the one that burned - Bright Aqua -, 41K miles, and even a couple of more options than mine had. Adjustable suspension and LTPWS. Always garage kept, super clean and for only 10K$. Then other three are 96s.

I don't believe there's a whole lot of difference between the 95 model and the 96.

I'll post pics of the one I end up getting.

Then the mods begin all over again, but this time I'll probably just go with AFRs new Eliminator heads, a stouter CompCams HR, headers, low restriction CATs and CORSA CAT back.

Jake

 

[Paul Higg]

It sound great Jake but most of what you said was hieroglyphics to me.

 

[JAKE]

It sound great Jake but most of what you said was hieroglyphics to me.

Which parts don't you understand? I'll fill in the blanks for you.

Jake

 

[Paul Higg]

AFRs new Eliminator heads, a stouter CompCams HR, headers, low restriction CATs and CORSA CAT back.

 

[JAKE]

AFRs new Eliminator heads, a stouter CompCams HR, headers, low restriction CATs and CORSA CAT back.

Oh, okay. I'll give it to you in a simplified, condensed version.

Let's say your engine is rated at 300 HP and you want it to make 400+ HP. Obviously to attain that, you'll have to change some parts.

Think of an engine as a big air pump; the more air your engine can take in and the more exhaust it can expel, the more power it'll make. So the parts I listed are designed to do just that.

The new AirFlow Research Eliminator heads flow dramatically more air and exhaust than the stock heads do. So installing them improves and increases the ability of the engine to breath. As a result, power goes up.

The CompCams HR (hydraulic roller) camshaft opens the heads' valves sooner, keeps them open longer and lifts them higher than the stock camshaft does. So, since all the intake airflow has to pass by the valves, the CompCams camshaft allows the engine to not only breath better, but also to continue to improve breathing at higher RPMS. As a result power goes up.

On the exhaust side, headers, higher flowing CATs (catalytic converters) and CORSA CAT-back exhaust improves the engine's ability to exhaust (expel) all the gases after the air/gas mixture has burned inside the engine.

So the first two mods (heads and cam) improve the intake part of the equation and the last three (headers, high-flow CATs and CORSA) improve the exhaust. BTW, CORSA is one of the companies that make exhaust systems for our Vettes which don't create unwanted noise.

So when properly selected and installed, you'll hit your goal of over 400 HP.

Jake

 

[Paul Higg]

Thanks Jake. But, I do not have the tools to tear down an engine right now. I HAD most of them but lost them in a divorce. See, if you're a man in Georgia and you get divorced you lose everything, and I mean everything. A woman can beat her kids half to death, cheat on you with your own brother and you still lose because you have a p*n*s. (Happened to me!) But I am away from her.

Anyway, I digress, I'm sorry. I had all that stuff and I could have done it but now for the major work I take it to a company that specializes in Corvettes only, for 32 years. I can however read wiring diagrams like crazy and troubleshoot after being an aircraft tech for so long.

I envy your skills Jake, being able to do all that takes a lot of skill, I know, I've seen it.

Thanks for the info.

 

[JAKE]

To remove the PCM, all you need is a mm wrench/ratchet-socket (I forgot, but it's something like a 8-10mm). The four connectors simply unplug by hand.

Sorry GA treated you so badly. Texas is just the opposite.

In my divorce I represented myself in a two day trial. When her adultery was introduced, that's all it took. I received EVERYTHING; house, furniture, she had to maintain health care for the kids, etc. I had a female judge too.

Judges don't play in Texas when adultery is an issue.

Jake

 

[Paul Higg]

The judge just laughed when he found out she slept with my brother. It didn't even matter one whit. I lost everything too. I can't even see my kids.

It took an entire year too and the ONLY time I was allowed on the stand was on the LAST day of the trial. I even introduced recordings of her shrieking and beating the kids. DFACS first removed the kids from her but here in crazy GA they ALWAYS want to keep the kids with the mothers even if they sometimes end up getting killed by the mothers.

I am a Christian man and I know justice will prevail in the end but I cry almost daily for the 12 year old daughter and my soon to be 10 year old son. My first daughter died when she was two during open heart surgery too, she was born with a heart defect, she would have been 15 yesterday. But despite all this I still hold on. My new wife and my Vette keep me busy. Plus I love to help people. Thanks for the ear Jake.

 

[James in Denver]

Resurrecting an old thread....

I have a 91 C4 L-98 (? i.e. the 250 HP, not ZR1). Its a 6 speed. 72,000 miles +/-.

Just replaced the battery (was weak anyway) and the alternator (brush going out). I have an aftermarket radio with an alpine "v12" amp. I bought the car this way.

I'm getting the SYS error as well.

The pictures for pulling the codes on this thread do not appear. Can anyone re-post the picture for pulling the codes (grounding something then turning on the ignition and not starting..).

Also, can someone point me to the thread or post about the resistors and where they should be placed? Preferrably with pictures?

I'm an ok mechanic, but I do best with pictures.

Or you can directly email me at james DOT denver AT gmail DOT com.

Thanks in advance,
James in Denver