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Topic: 1982 starts but won't run

in Forum: C3 Engines

1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 7/29/10 6:16pm Message 1 of 13
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Belmont, NH - USA
Joined: 7/29/2010
Posts: 7
Vette(s): 1982 Collector Edition Project Car in need of a lot of TLC!

I was working under the hood of the car while it was idling normally when suddenly it just died as if the ignition switch had been turned off. I tried to start the car several times. It will start like normal but only idles 3-5 seconds before dying. I removed the breather assy. and I can see that the injectors are supplying fuel for the short period of time. The check engine light does not come on until the engine dies. Any suggestions as to what could cause this problem?




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1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 7/29/10 7:34pm Message 2 of 13
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Oak Creek, WI - USA
Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 1965
Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
If you have Computer on that car check it.  Sounds like computer in not monitoring the fuel.  Check the Throtel bodies.  Sounds like a "carb" problem.  What do you mean by "the injectors are suppling fuel for a short period of time" ??
Dan



1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 7/29/10 7:36pm Message 3 of 13
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Sounds like possibly the fuel pump is not working properly, or the fuel filter may be clogged up. Then again, you say you were working under there, so you may have moved a wire, or loosened a connector without knowing it. Check ALL of the connections on the throttle bodies, as well as the distributor.

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Joel Adams
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1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 7/29/10 7:49pm Message 4 of 13
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Former Member
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Oak Creek, WI - USA
Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 1965
Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
Ya, what Joel said.  I did not think of the fuel pump.  But then again, I am not the all powerful Joel !!!  Rolling On The Floor Laughing


1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 7/30/10 8:53am Message 5 of 13
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Titusville, FL - USA
Joined: 12/19/2007
Posts: 154
Vette(s): 1977 Coupe (White), 2006 Convertible (Victory Red). NCM Life Member #2221.

I have an '82 and ran into a similar issue about 6 months ago while the car sat around getting a new interior.

For a while, the car would not stay running, yet what fuel did get to the throttle bodies, was quickly consumed within seconds. We then started the troubleshooting and while we had the chance, the mechanic changed out the idle air controls and replaced the coolant sensor. Although fuel continued reaching the injectors, the fix was a false positive. The car would start, and would immediately consume what fuel made it to the engine, then shut down. The fix??

The fuel pump's plumbing: once we decided to check it, we found that one of the teflon clamps used to secure the rubber hose to the pump had failed. This caused most fuel pumped to cycle right back into the tank, with some reaching the engine, giving enough to start but not be maintained. So, we replaced the factory teflon clamp with stainless and while we were at it, changed the rubber hoses as well, along with the pump seal on top of the tank. Whaolaaaaaaaa...problem not running fixed!
 
And come to find out, the car ran a bit better with the coolant sensor and idle air controls being changed as well...because our initial idea of preventive maintenance concerning those two items simply made sense to do as well at the time.
 
A couple of things u can eliminate if the car was running just fine before your troubles. As with my '82, the mechanic and I eliminated the injectors as a duel fail (extremely rare as far as we were concerned), and the air idle controllers.
 
And don't forget to check the fuel pump itself and its pressure. The preferred pressure, which gives  the best, and full, efficiency should be 11 psi. GM specs call for a minimum of 9 psi.
 
Other outside, and extreme, possibilities are: the throttle sensor, the knock sensor (usually breaks when removed to change/drain coolant), the oxygen sensor, and the ECM.   
 
Hope all this helps!

 




1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 7/30/10 3:14pm Message 6 of 13
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Belmont, NH - USA
Joined: 7/29/2010
Posts: 7
Vette(s): 1982 Collector Edition Project Car in need of a lot of TLC!
Thanks for the info guys! It sounds like the conditions I have mirror those that you described Jack. My car sat in storage for nearly 3 years and I just started working on it within the past two months. I'll start with the pump and work my way forward... 


1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 7/30/10 4:50pm Message 7 of 13
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Newton, NJ - USA
Joined: 1/26/2010
Posts: 113
Vette(s): 1978 Indy Pace Car. All original. A true survivor. 2nd owner Only 300 miles.
Yes! good to know! I've been, nope not gona jinks it! Thanks John


   

1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 7/30/10 5:05pm Message 8 of 13
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
I'd change the fuel filter and give it a whirl. LFTSSF!! (look for the simple sh&% first!)


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1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 8/2/10 4:06am Message 9 of 13
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Victor, NY - USA
Joined: 7/12/2004
Posts: 6841
Vette(s): 2004 Commemorative Edition Coupe, Auto w/HUD. 13K miles in 2015. Sold 1982 Red Coupe
You can remove the fuel pump from the tank without removing the tank.
It comes through the fuel door.
Just need to remove the door then the screws for the flange.
You need to rotate the pump as you remove it.
Replace the hose and sock.



 
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1982 starts but won't run

Posted: 8/2/10 5:11am Message 10 of 13
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
I'd say put a pressure gauge on it and see what is going on. Loosing fuel pressure could be caused by several things, including a bad oil pressure sender, a faulty ignition module, or the pump/filter. If the engine starts dying before the fuel pressure goes away, then you're looking at another problem, such as ignition related.
Have you "scanned" it for any codes?



Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

in Forum: C3 Engines


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