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Chevy Corvette Car Repair Questions and Answers

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Question: 1995 Chevrolet Corvette lt1 350cid_mileage: 116,300. I am having a problem with my cooling system on my 1995 Corvette. Here is what it's doing. I bought it in June about a week after I had it I got a low coolant light. I filled the high pressure tank like it says in owners manual. It will blow the coolant out only when I stop the engine. I have replaced the cap has new high performance aluminum radiator which I installed. I elevated the front end as said in radiator instructions also a Chevy mechanic at the dealer said to elevate the front to get all the air out of system. I am still having it blow the coolant out I also replaced thermostat. Engine temp is running 188-191 on highway in town 205 at most. But when I stop and shut the engine off you can here what appears to be air bubbles and that’s when it starts blowing the coolant into the overflow tank.

Answer: Perform a cylinder leak-down test on the engine which will show if you have a blown head-gasket and/or cracked cylinder head.

Question: 1997 Chevy Corvette mileage: 75,000. What typically causes a code 44? I've replaced the oxygen sensor twice; the catalytic converter has been replaced. Could you point me in the direction of what components would be faulty since I have replaced many? Thanks in advance.

Answer: Code 44 indicates a lean mixture. Check the fuel pump and fuel filter as the proper amount of fuel may not be getting to the engine. In addition, check the MAS (mass air-flow sensor) and the relay that controls it.

Question: 1999 Chevrolet Corvette mileage 55,000. My Corvette just died at a stop light recently; it was very hard to restart and ran very poorly. After starting, it sounded like it was running on three cylinders and died out again. Towed it home and pulled a couple spark plugs which were black and badly fouled. Tried to start the car again and it ran fine for about fifteen seconds and then ran real rough and died again. I checked for engine codes and it came up with code: 36 (MAF burn off relay). I replaced both the power and burn off relays along with the mass air flow sensor because it was the original. Also changed the spark plugs. Went to start the car and STILL have the same problem, sounds like it's idling on three cylinders and dies out. I also noticed when the car was idling very rough that the right side catalytic converter looked red as if it was very hot. Any ideas what's wrong?

Answer: Based on what you have told us, we suspect a faulty fuel pressure regulator is leaking raw fuel into the engine.

Question: 1999 Chevrolet Corvette mileage: 30,400. When I start the engine it sounds as if the starter is still engaged and spinning at the same speed as the flywheel and not grinding. Then when I turn the key completely off the engine continues cranking as if I was trying to start it, but the key is completely off. Any ideas? Starter? Relay?

Answer: It appears that you probably have a bad starter and/or solenoid.

Question: 2002 Chevy Corvette mileage: 22,000 The interior lights on my Corvette will not come on when either of the doors are opened. If I use the head light switch to turn on the interior lights they work normally (except for the light that is above the passenger's foot well (I replaced the light bulb too!). I know the door contacts beneath the hinges are working properly because I accidentally broke a light blue wire that led from the driver's side switch. When that happened that switch would no longer operate the factory car alarm. When I repaired the broken wire the alarm worked properly. The head light switch operates all other lights properly. This may be related. The hatch switches that are in each end of the doors do not function yet the hatch release that is in the center console releases the hatch.

Answer: The door switches for the interior lights operate by completing the ground. Corvettes with fiberglass bodies have extra ground wires due to the insulating quality of the fiberglass. Check for loose or poor connections on the ground wires.

Question: 1995 Corvette mileage: 50,000. I have had no problems with this car since until last September. The fuel pump died and I replaced it, Then it was very hard to start and would carbon up quickly and all cylinders. It was drivable if it would start but at about 80% power. Once it ran it would start again without to much trouble but after a day or two it was hard to start (10-15 min of cranking). I replaced Cap, Rotor, Coil, Plugs & wires, Timing Module, MAF; NO Change. I didn't get any codes except #12. I replaced the ECM the car started right up no carbon, 100% power. The third time I started it (30 min total time on new ECM) it stopped dead in its tracks- NO Codes. I got it started about fifteen minutes later back to carboning-up. Next day no start at all- No Codes. Question: Could something be wiping out the RAM in the ECM?

Answer: We would check for a plugged catalytic converter and correct fuel pressure.

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Question: 2001 Chevy Corvette mileage: 6,000. I'm thinking of replacing my vehicle's thermostat from stock 192 degrees to a 160 or a 178 low temp thermostat. I live in Florida and during the summer, the vehicle runs hot, doesn't overheat, just runs hot. I know some of the benefits of a low temp thermostat, but what are some of the problems that this change may cause?

Answer: Your engine computer management system is designed to work with the engine at 192 degrees. A lower temperature thermostat may keep the engine in open loop not allowing the computer to control the engine. This creates drivability problems.

Question: 1997 Chevy Corvette mileage: 65,000. This car is driven very little as you can see from the mileage. Recently, the car has not been running up to par. It started off with the idle speed at low Rpms, {500-600) and would surge up to around 900-1000 and back down. After driving the car for a few days, the problem became worse and would stall when stopping in traffic. However, the car ran fine at normal driving speed. {45-65 mph} After a few more times on the road, I received a "check engine" light, Code #44 {lean O2 sensor}. Since that time, I have replaced the O2 sensor, plugs, plug wires, rotor, dist. cap and the dist. control module. Also, I have made inspections to the air management and vacuum emission hoses. So far, I cannot locate any leaks. The car is super clean and hoses are like new. I am still having the problem of getting the car to idle and after the car reaches normal operating temperature. The code 44 will repeat even after re-setting the computer. I have checked for a short from the ECM connector to the O2 sensor and seems to be in working order. I have grounded the diagnostic terminal and received a steady flashing light which indicates an "open loop" operation. Which I believe rules out the ECM being defective. The TBI units seem to be in balance with each other, both injectors have a very good rounded spray of fuel, and both respond with an increase of the throttle. Also, by setting the throttle up around 1000 Rpms the car will respond to adjustments in timing. I have been able to start the engine and move the EGR valve up and down slightly which will in turn even out the engine at idle speed. The EGR will respond with a drop in Rpms at a higher engine speed, and under a vacuum test. EGR and EGR solenoid seem to be in working order. The car does not smoke and the oil is clean. The plugs, which I removed, were in fair shape. I have taken out the front two plugs on both sides of the engine, the driver side is a normal tan, and the other side has been dark in color but no oil. I assume that this is from me adjusting the timing back and forth? The car fire's right away. One other thing is that I have noticed is that the transmission fluid is about 1 qt over what it should be. Could this be causing some of this problem? I still think I have some kind of an air leak. Help.

Answer: Your problem may be as simple as a coolant thermostat stuck open not allowing the engine to come up to full operating temperature which causes the computer to stay in open loop. Or, the incorrect thermostat is installed. If the thermostat checks out okay, start checking for loose or poor ground connections.

Question: 2001 Chevy Corvette mileage: 113,000. My Corvette is spitting out code 36. I replaced the Air flow meter with another known good one. About fifty miles after I replaced it, the check engine light came back again with the same code. Can you tell me where the air flow meter burn-off relay is in my vehicle? I want to replace it to see if this will clear up my problem. Is it possible my Oxygen sensor is causing my vehicle to sometimes register poor economy while cruising on a level road surface?

Answer: The mass airflow burn off relay is located right next to the cruise control servo, which is likely your problem. If the Oxygen sensor has not recently been replaced or is faulty, it could be causing your poor mileage.

Question: 1998 Chevy Corvette mileage: 35,000. I have owned my car about three years and was considering sprucing it up a bit at a speed shop. I just purchased a three year extended warranty from GMAC as well. My desire is currently to add the torque converter, which an independent mechanic said they could install for about $1,200 in two days. Can you give me the pros and cons of such an upgrade, as they pertain to warranty (Vinci will give a one year warranty and GMAC warrants all other parts I'm told), performance, fuel economy and anything else?

Answer: Before you have the torque converter changed in your car, check with General Motors to verify that your warranty will still be valid if you modify your car. It has been our experience that dealers are reluctant to do any warranty work on vehicles that have been modified.

Question: 1996 Chevy Corvette mileage: 84,000. My Corvette seems to idle fine and cruises fine but when I let off the accelerator from 55 mph, I can feel the car surging. The rpms seem to fluctuate up and down 2-4 hundred rpms until it gets down to a normal idle. I am thinking of replacing the IAC (idle air control).

Answer: Scan the computer for codes. It is possible you have a weak oxygen sensor.

Question: 1995 Chevrolet Corvette. I replaced my engine with a Jasper engine. When I code out my computer I get a code 43, which is an electronic spark module or sensor. I have a low idle around 550 rpm. How do I tell which one is bad? The car runs great other than the low idle. Any ideas?

Answer: The only way to fix the problem without costly part replacement guessing is to scan the PCM with an OBD II scanner. It will pinpoint the faulty components.

Question: 1987 Chevy Corvette mileage: 67,000. I got a code 34 on my computer, went in had another MAF put in, car ran fine for three days with no codes. Suddenly code 34 is back...what could cause this?

Answer: The catalytic converter may be the cause of the failure of your mass airflow sensor (MAF). If the converter is partially plugged, it backs up the exhaust, which affects intake manifold vacuum. The airflow into the engine is then affected resulting in your code 34.

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