Will the problems ever end?

[Achilles]

Ya know I just finished getting my suspenssion dialed in last week and was out enjoying renewed handling when the car started to sputter and stall. It was running fine for the last couple of hours untill this happened. Fortunately I wasn't far from home. Let the car sit for a few minutes and took it out again. Ran fin for about 4 blocks, then did it again. Completely died. Started right up and drove a little ways untill it started to sputter and spit and cough out the exhaust. Barely made it home. Since I couldn't find anybody with a fuel pressure gauge, I opted to go ahead replace the fuel pump and filter hoping to get lucky. Once the new pump was in, It drove fine not even a burp. But I didn't drive it very long, just enough to get to 180 deg. This morning I decided to give it a real test. Drove fine for about 20 min. Decided to see what the car was made of and stood on the gas. Ran fine untill I hit 3rd. gear and the problems started all over again and got worse the further I went. Barely made it home idleing in 1st. gear. could barely give it any gas without it trying to stall.

When I got my exhaust done about 6 mos. ago the guy in the shop said my converter was about gone and would need to be replaced soon.

Does this sound like a clogged converter? The more I think of it, it seems like the hotter the engine and exhaust get the worse it runs.

BTW, I 'm not throwing any codes.

What to do?:crazy

 

[Alan76]

Sounds like your convertor. Here In Georgia I would just run true duel exhast but being in California I guess you have to change the converter. Still wish I lived in Cailifornia
Alan

 

[Achilles]

Still wish I lived in Cailifornia
Alan

That's funny Alan, I've been trying to get out of CA for 5 years.


Thanks for the info. I'm going to try to gut the cat before I replace it.

 

[I_R_DA_ONE]

Don't forget to check the fuel pump.... it could be the strainer on the fuel pump is getting plugged by a piece of paper.....this will drive you nuts trying to figure it out
Mike

 

[Achilles]

I doubt its the fuel pump or the sock, since I just replaced it. Unless its not getting juice. And it was when I installed the new one. And its not the cat. Just had a new high flow put on. Trialered it to the muffler shop. Drove it in the bay. Drove it on the trailer. Got home drove it one block and it died. Now it won't even try to start. Just cranks and cranks.

Seems like I had this problem with another car along time ago when the distributer module went bad. Only thing is, it just went bad without warning. This problem seemed to lead up to it's eventual demise.

I'm sure it's a sensor of some kind. But why no codes?

 

[1Bad86]

I think you're on track with the distributor module. They can limp along or go bad with or without warning, and they won't throw any codes. Mine did. I detailed my car on evening, backed it into the garage, no problem. Next morning it would crank its ass off but no start and no code. Good luck:crazy A friend of mine also has an 86 and his module went out giving the same symptoms as yours. Run OK then get heatsoaked and

 

[Achilles]

I think you're on track with the distributor module. They can limp along or go bad with or without warning, and they won't throw any codes. Mine did. I detailed my car on evening, backed it into the garage, no problem. Next morning it would crank its ass off but no start and no code. Good luck:crazy

Thanks for the info. If I can find a place open today, I'll give it a try. I hate to keep shooting in the dark with this problem. But I also hate to pay a mechanic $500 to scratch his head too. For the money, I can scratch longer.

 

[1Bad86]

Endless problems

I feel your pain. Mine now needs rear wheel bearings, clutch and clutch master cylinder and just in time for spring:ugh . It took me a while to figure mine out but like you said my time is far less expensive than Mr. Goodwrench's. Plus I went ahead and replaced my entire distributor with a DUI High Performance Distributor system for 285.00 and put my stock one in the attic. I've been trying to restore the interior since I've had it but can't seem to keep up mechanically with it to get it done. But, I would do it all again. I love my vette.

 

[WhalePirot]

My clogged CAT prevented the engine's hi revs.

Yiou know it is heat related, and inigtion or fuel delivery is probable, my guess is ignition.

You can check for spark rather easily, with a round metallic object (like a phillp's screwdriver) inserted into a spark plug boot, and held near a ground source, while cranking the engine over. I recommend not touching the metal part.

Fuel pressure can be read with a gauge connected to the tap in the fuel rail.

Both are required, and one will cut your troubleshooting task in half (the half-split method of troubleshooting).

 

[Achilles]

I suspect that it is an ignition issue. But now I have an even bigger problem. Yesterday, I wanted to check for codes one more time before I started the process of testing the ignition. When I jumped the A-B terminals on the OBD, I heard a sizzle from behind the instrument cluster and alot of smoke. Guess I'll be diving into the dash soon before I get a chance to figure out the other problem. I'm starting to think this car has ghosts in the closet that I am slowly discovering.ad

 

[1Bad86]

Ghost of the 86

I swear it must be an 86 model thing. Your luck sounds like mine. 1 problem cured, 2 more pop-up. Then again mine will be 20 years old in November and nothing lasts forever. Luckily for me, it appears Bubba never worked on my car, every part I've changed out has been original.

 

[Achilles]

Well I think some of my problems that I'm finding out are the fact that Bubba has worked on this car. I'm noticing half the screws aren't in the dash pad and panels, indicating it has been apart at some point.

I think I'm gonna have to start a new thread for this one.:W

 

[1Bad86]

Dash Cluster Sizzle

It's kinda weird I just had my cluster out 2 weeks ago. It would go out and the high beam and blinker lights would come on (loss of ground in cluster). I got the DIY repair info from www.batee.com\corvette\index.shtml . I don't know if it had anything on sizzle and smoke from the cluster, but it might be worth a shot. I had to resolder a bunch of connections they pointed out as my problem and now it works great. If I had my all my other afore mentioned problems fixed I could actually drive it.:eyerole Good luck with yours.

 

[Achilles]

Thanks for the site info. That may turn out to be a great help once I know what I'm in for. I thought for a second that the ALDL wiring diagram would be my savior, but it doesn't really identify what the wires go to or the color code which would be a great help. I have not seen this wire diagram in my repair manual. But I'll keep checking.

 

[The Drakester]

Just a thought - have you checked for H2O in the GAS? I have had that issue on my 97 and a long time ago on a Nissan PU - drained a half gallon out of that puppy. Also had an engine quit on my airplane just after T/O from water in the gas!

 

[hAZcAT]

. Also had an engine quit on my airplane just after T/O from water in the gas!

Not a good time to find out...........:ugh

 

[Achilles]

Well, with a little investigative diagnosing I was able to determine that the ignition module went bad. Once I replaced it, it fired right up. I have had modules go bad on other cars before, but the symptoms were that the car just would not start again after it had been running fine. My symptoms seemed to take a gradual approach after complete warm up until it finally quit running all together.

Anyway, I'm back on the road and my fried electrical encounter does not seem to be effecting anything that I can see. Everything is working fine. Not sure if I should just leave well enough alone or not. I think I will pull off the lower panel below the steering column and just take a peek at whats under there.

There's nothing like the satisfaction you get when you are able to find out what is wrong with your car and are able to fix it yourself.:dance

 

[WhalePirot]

Outstanding! Not another chicken joke, either.