Need help with my 85 vette please

[Stugotz]

Hello I need help getting my 85 vette to run.
Greetings to the forum, this is my first post.
I have been trying to get my 1985 vette to run.
The problem is that the motor will not stay running at all. If I give it a little starting fluid it runs well till the fluid is all gone.
So far I have confirmed that the fuel is getting to the injectors. I have confirmed spark. I have replace the computer also. I have new spark plugs and wires to boot.
I have changed the fuel filter also. When I changed out the computer I used my old prongs that I had.
I have fuel spark and clean gas.
As I stated it will only run untill the starting fluid is used up.
Is there any kind of sensors I should be aware of that might need testing or replaced?
I am so stumped at the moment what little hair I have left is getting nervouse LOL.
Thanks for your replys, have a great New Year

Stu

[Jim T.]

Re: Need help with my 85 vette please

Sitting in your 85, picking a time when you have quiet surroundings, turn the ignition key to on, not start and listen. Can you hear the fuel pump working in the tank? You should also hear the fuel pump relay "click". This will only take a few seconds. If you hear the fuel pump workig and the relay clicking now check the fuel rail with a fuel pressure guage and see how how much pressure you have with the key turned to on. The fuel pump will need oil pressure to activate the pump again after this initial "priming". You can check it by cycling the key from off to on more than once.

[Joe C.]

Re: Need help with my 85 vette please

Hello Stewart,

I foist want to welcome you aboard this here forum, and also I'm saying that also I GOTZ an '85, too. Bought her brand new, at Benson Chevrolet on 86th Street and 16th Ave. in Brooklyn NY. With a name like yours, you must be from Bensonhurst, too. If not, then maybe southern Italy. Did somebody siphon the gas outta your tank, maybe? No, okay then.

First and foremost, you MUST, MUST buy yourself the Shop Manual, available from Helm, Inc. Your Corvette is much too complex to be taking "pot shots" without proper schematics, flow charts, trouble code lists, etc.

If you have fuel to the rail, then that should eliminate your fuel pump, and fuel filter. If your filter was heavily restricted, the engine should at least make an attempt to fire. When you temporarily start the car by spraying starting fluid, you should DISTINCTLY hear all 8 injectors actuating (ie: clicking). If not, then one or both injector relays are inoperative. There might be an "open" somewhere in the injector nozzle circuit. All 8 injectors might be clogged (very unlikely). Remove the injectors one at a time and put them in a glass container, crank and check for spray pattern. Your cold start valve, or its circuit might have a fault. The cold start valve is the modern day equivalent of the choke valve. It is an additional injector, located in the plenum, which provides fuel enrichment. You should remove and check its operation, also.

As you can see, the process is quite complex, and you need the Manual to attack it properly. Also, there are easier and more efficient test methods described in the Manual, too many to enumerate here. If you get the book, and educate yourself on its contents, then feel free to call me anytime, with questions.

Also, the PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) (prong??) chip was upgraded by GM in early 1986. It cannot be written to, like later chips. If your ECM is using the factory PROM chip, then you should upgrade it. Check the part number with Joe Lucia.

Good luck,
Ben Dover

[James G.]

Re: Need help with my 85 vette please

Great advice here.

Chevrolet has stopped servicing these parts. When they are gone.......there gone.

A long time Corvette shop owner here in Southern California is retired. He specialized in computer controled 84 and up cars, even though he owed C1's and 2's for a long time.

He has lots of 84-96 NOS parts he wants to sell in one lump sum. So, once diagnoised completely, let me know if I can help.

[Joe C.]

Re: Need help with my 85 vette please

Hi Jim,

The 82 Corvette used the same ECM/engine/trans combination as the '84, AFAIK. Although Gordon Killebrew is the current C4 diagnostician-extraordinaire, most of what he does can be performed by any astute shade-tree mechanic (technician?) with a VOM, time, and patience.
Are you the fella with all the C4 parts? My '85 is all original, except for the battery, oil and fuel filters, and spark plugs. Do you have an original air filter element for me? How about a brand new set of NOS P255/50 VR-16 Gatorbacks? No?
Then how about a spare dash cluster, just in case? Oh, to hell with it, how about one of everything. You never know.

Joe

[James G.]

Re: Need help with my 85 vette please

No air filter. Most of what my friend has are ECM'S, proms, switches and sensors stuff. I have a list of parts.........but he wants to SELL ALL TO ONE PERSON.

[Dave P.]

Re: Need help with my 85 vette please

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[Bill B.]

Re: Need help with my 85 vette please

I know how frustrating this is for you. I know you will get lots of advice but just a another thought for you. If the cat converter is plugged up, it won't run. Maybe a last resort suggestion if fuel and ignition are all okay--unbolt converter and see if it starts and stays running. Good luck.

[Stuart Hanberry]

Re: Need help with my 85 vette please

I wanted to take the time to thank all of you , who have responded to my ?.

I will give them a try and let you know what worked. Have a great new year

Stu