Plenum pull veterans I have Q's - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

tomtom72 · 10-14-2005

I'm gonna try to put a period on this thread. If for no other reason than as a rookie Z owner I read these "how to" threads like a text book so I can learn about my car and how to work on it.

The problem started with a miss. It was barely there at first but didn't take long to be really obvious. Do get a Helm manual for your mod. Yr. Z! Gordon's stuff helps too. His classes probably help even more. Check for codes. Scan the car while it's running in "closed Loop" because the Integrator #'s & Block Learn #'s will tell you alot. I checked all the usual suspects: spark, plugs, wires, fuel pump pressure & filter, water in gas, all came up good. The scan is what showed me how the motor was using fuel and that lead me to the injectors. They didn't set a DTC in my case. I'm not sure that bad coils on the injectors would set a DTC. I learned by "seeing" the ECM trying to control bad injectors on a scan tool. The miss got worse the longer the motor ran.

This looks like a tough job but with the info Z owners have: Net Registry site, Pacific Northwest site(Jeffvette's site), Big Country Corvettes(Texas Z owners), Corvette Action Center and our own forum. You will have enough real motors to look at & study before you turn a wrench. Those sites will take the edge off and it is time consuming but not beyond the skill level of most shade tree wrencher's. In fact, after you do it you will see it is just alot of detail work and not impossible for a rookie to do correctly. You also will be proud of yourself because you just passed "plenum's 101". I know I am.

When you put it back together after fix'in what was wrong be as careful & pay as close attention as you did when you started disassembly. That part is important because the same details that made you pay attention during the removal will be important on the return trip. Remember, if you forget something you gotta pull the plenum back off to fix what you missed.

Good luck and ask Q's. The other owners will answer. That's what makes these cars worth owning, the members!

Thanks to all the members that helped to teach me!

Tom

10-14-2005	#26
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,609	Re: Plenum pull veterans I have Q's I'm gonna try to put a period on this thread. If for no other reason than as a rookie Z owner I read these "how to" threads like a text book so I can learn about my car and how to work on it. The problem started with a miss. It was barely there at first but didn't take long to be really obvious. Do get a Helm manual for your mod. Yr. Z! Gordon's stuff helps too. His classes probably help even more. Check for codes. Scan the car while it's running in "closed Loop" because the Integrator #'s & Block Learn #'s will tell you alot. I checked all the usual suspects: spark, plugs, wires, fuel pump pressure & filter, water in gas, all came up good. The scan is what showed me how the motor was using fuel and that lead me to the injectors. They didn't set a DTC in my case. I'm not sure that bad coils on the injectors would set a DTC. I learned by "seeing" the ECM trying to control bad injectors on a scan tool. The miss got worse the longer the motor ran. This looks like a tough job but with the info Z owners have: Net Registry site, Pacific Northwest site(Jeffvette's site), Big Country Corvettes(Texas Z owners), Corvette Action Center and our own forum. You will have enough real motors to look at & study before you turn a wrench. Those sites will take the edge off and it is time consuming but not beyond the skill level of most shade tree wrencher's. In fact, after you do it you will see it is just alot of detail work and not impossible for a rookie to do correctly. You also will be proud of yourself because you just passed "plenum's 101". I know I am. When you put it back together after fix'in what was wrong be as careful & pay as close attention as you did when you started disassembly. That part is important because the same details that made you pay attention during the removal will be important on the return trip. Remember, if you forget something you gotta pull the plenum back off to fix what you missed. Good luck and ask Q's. The other owners will answer. That's what makes these cars worth owning, the members! Thanks to all the members that helped to teach me! Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member Last edited by tomtom72; 10-14-2005 at 08:23 AM.