1991 INTL REST light gone crazy - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

billschroeder5842 · 12-29-2016

My INFL REST light comes on and off intermittently with no apparent reason on my 91.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason. I can start the car, watch the flashes go off drive it and it sometimes comes on. A few more miles, and it may go off or stay on-- you pick. Most of the time I don't see it and everything is normal, but every now and then It pops out of no where.

Also, the car seems to reset itself when I turn it off and/or go through a new start cycle again.

Now, I've read about the 90s having issues and the fix was made for 91. I read that due to the location of the sensors, they are prone to corrosion and the fix is to pull them off, clean the surfaces and reinstall.

I've also read that the code need to be cleared, but the light goes off. Does the system store the code or does it disappear?

Any ideas?

jss06c6 · 12-30-2016

Bill,

Check out Mike's post. (MickeyD). Good write up there. He's dealing with the same issue on his '90..

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MickeyD · 12-30-2016

Boy am I. Don came up and he tried to help clear it with paper clip and then we went to his house and tried Cliffs code clearer. Didn't help. Infl rest an seat belt light still on. Thanks to Don (32valvesftw), what great help today. Did bring his ramps to help with oil change. Thanks again.

jss06c6 · 12-30-2016

Mike,

Feel free to come over here and put it up on my lift for next oil change!

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jss06c6 · 12-30-2016

Mike,

Let's see if we can clear it up. How's your schedule next week?

We can put it in my shop and get after it.

Steve

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WVZR-1 · 12-31-2016

OP - Diagnostics, codes and procedures for a '91 are way different than anything you see mentioned for a '90 MY. Disregard everything and do diagnostics in the FSM. A FLASH diagnostics will only do current codes I believe BUT if there are HISTORY codes it will I believe flash a 13 and then the HISTORY needs read using a scanner.

Doing the sensor maintenance is time wasted without doing the diagnostics first for '91 or later (MY THOUGHTS). Since your SIR is intermittent it "hints" that when there is NO SIR there's only a stored history likely. If checked when "LIGHT ON" you could likely assume that if one FLASHED is likely the same in the history. A read of the FSM 9J before doing a thing. A poor connection maybe at the connectors at the column base, the air bag itself, the DERM or to the sensors. A '91 also has an ARMING sensor.

billschroeder5842 · 12-31-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVZR-1

OP - Diagnostics, codes and procedures for a '91 are way different than anything you see mentioned for a '90 MY. .....A poor connection maybe at the connectors at the column base, the air bag itself, the DERM or to the sensors. A '91 also has an ARMING sensor.

I drove her yesterday with about 5 on/off sequences-- nothing-- all ops normal.

One thought I had is that I've been doing a lot of cleaning under the hood and engine (Oil line replace) as of late. Simple green, hose rinsing, brake cleaner..etc. The under hood is looking better, but some of the water may have worked its way to a sensor causing a short?

I'm thinking of taking the panels off and getting after the sensors (cleaning and re-grounding) as a preventative maintenance, but other items keep taking precedence as long as the light is out!

BTW... is there a "preferred" code reader/clear or is the paper clip method the way to go? I had an 82 with the ALDL and I bought a connector to my laptop. Very cool program.

32valvesftw · 12-31-2016

Mike, the more I think about your situation, its the sensor on the passenger side. What we were seeing when the light momentarily went out was the system recognizing that the process was done, and the resetting due to the fault. The next step should be cleaning the connections and checking the wiring, then see if there is a code. I'm happy to help f you need.

jss06c6 · 12-31-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842

I drove her yesterday with about 5 on/off sequences-- nothing-- all ops normal.

One thought I had is that I've been doing a lot of cleaning under the hood and engine (Oil line replace) as of late. Simple green, hose rinsing, brake cleaner..etc. The under hood is looking better, but some of the water may have worked its way to a sensor causing a short?

I'm thinking of taking the panels off and getting after the sensors (cleaning and re-grounding) as a preventative maintenance, but other items keep taking precedence as long as the light is out!

BTW... is there a "preferred" code reader/clear or is the paper clip method the way to go? I had an 82 with the ALDL and I bought a connector to my laptop. Very cool program.

Bill,

Check the ALDL connector you have for the '84, I suspect it is early style. You can pick up a cheap OBD1 code scanner at most auto parts stores. It will give you the codes, but not clear the codes.

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WVZR-1 · 12-31-2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842

I'm thinking of taking the panels off and getting after the sensors (cleaning and re-grounding) as a preventative maintenance, but other items keep taking precedence as long as the light is out!

This I believe would be "time wasted" without doing diagnostics 1st.

Scanning and diagnostic requirements are very different dependent upon the system that you want to check. The "jumper" FLASH or the ECM/CCM through the DIC are very reliable for some. Short of a quality Tech1/1a or the Snap-on offering everything else is insufficient. A laptop for "run diagnostics" yes but NOT for "controlled devices" in the car.

12-29-2016	#1
billschroeder5842 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 584	1991 INTL REST light gone crazy My INFL REST light comes on and off intermittently with no apparent reason on my 91. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. I can start the car, watch the flashes go off drive it and it sometimes comes on. A few more miles, and it may go off or stay on-- you pick. Most of the time I don't see it and everything is normal, but every now and then It pops out of no where. Also, the car seems to reset itself when I turn it off and/or go through a new start cycle again. Now, I've read about the 90s having issues and the fix was made for 91. I read that due to the location of the sensors, they are prone to corrosion and the fix is to pull them off, clean the surfaces and reinstall. I've also read that the code need to be cleared, but the light goes off. Does the system store the code or does it disappear? Any ideas? __________________ Bill Schroeder Texas Proud! 1991 Corvette ZR1 #1388 2015 Challenger Scat Pack Shaker

12-30-2016	#2
jss06c6 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Magnolia, Texas Posts: 884	Re: 1991 INTL REST light gone crazy Bill, Check out Mike's post. (MickeyD). Good write up there. He's dealing with the same issue on his '90.. Sent from my QTAIR7 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

12-30-2016	#3
MickeyD Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Conroe Texas Posts: 315	Re: 1991 INTL REST light gone crazy Boy am I. Don came up and he tried to help clear it with paper clip and then we went to his house and tried Cliffs code clearer. Didn't help. Infl rest an seat belt light still on. Thanks to Don (32valvesftw), what great help today. Did bring his ramps to help with oil change. Thanks again. __________________ 1990 ZR1 Red/Black #2469 1990 ZR1 Black/Black #843 1993 ZR1 Ruby 40th Anniversary #112

12-30-2016	#4
jss06c6 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Magnolia, Texas Posts: 884	Re: 1991 INTL REST light gone crazy Mike, Feel free to come over here and put it up on my lift for next oil change! Sent from my XT1585 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

12-30-2016	#5
jss06c6 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Magnolia, Texas Posts: 884	Re: 1991 INTL REST light gone crazy Mike, Let's see if we can clear it up. How's your schedule next week? We can put it in my shop and get after it. Steve Sent from my XT1585 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

12-31-2016	#6
WVZR-1 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,889	Re: 1991 INTL REST light gone crazy OP - Diagnostics, codes and procedures for a '91 are way different than anything you see mentioned for a '90 MY. Disregard everything and do diagnostics in the FSM. A FLASH diagnostics will only do current codes I believe BUT if there are HISTORY codes it will I believe flash a 13 and then the HISTORY needs read using a scanner. Doing the sensor maintenance is time wasted without doing the diagnostics first for '91 or later (MY THOUGHTS). Since your SIR is intermittent it "hints" that when there is NO SIR there's only a stored history likely. If checked when "LIGHT ON" you could likely assume that if one FLASHED is likely the same in the history. A read of the FSM 9J before doing a thing. A poor connection maybe at the connectors at the column base, the air bag itself, the DERM or to the sensors. A '91 also has an ARMING sensor.

12-31-2016	#8
32valvesftw Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 530	Re: 1991 INTL REST light gone crazy Mike, the more I think about your situation, its the sensor on the passenger side. What we were seeing when the light momentarily went out was the system recognizing that the process was done, and the resetting due to the fault. The next step should be cleaning the connections and checking the wiring, then see if there is a code. I'm happy to help f you need.