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MNorlander
12-24-2005, 01:04 AM
Over the past few weeks I have been having a few problems with my corvette.

The first day of the year that it rained very heavily, my car was outside while I was at work/school. I noticed right away that the car was extremely sluggish afterwords. The engine would die as I backed out of my parking spot leaving, and as I backed into my parking spot coming home. When I accelerated in the low RPMs it didn't seem to catch. It was just made a loud gurgling noise. Once after a heavy rain it made 3 clicking noises over a space of about 4 seconds before it seemed to 'catch' and then really pick up.

Unfortunately.. after the rain went away, my problems didn't. The car always blows out a thick white smoke puff when I start it up now, and if it's been raining it will blow out quite a bit. This is what I have imagined is a leaky head gasket. I checked the distributor cap to see if water was collecting in it, and it was good. At first we thought it was electrical/fuel injection that was causing the problem, because the car would idle VERY roughly.. shake the whole car. that doesn't seem to be the problem though as even after I keep the car in the garage overnight and it hasn't been in the rain for a few days it will return to the problems after a little of driving.

Also to note that when I first start the car up and it hasn't been raining, the first 20seconds it runs fine. Then it starts slowly getting worse. My gas mileage has gone from 17 to about 10 also since this started happening. (relevant?)


I will add more to this as I know I have missed some things. I was just wondering what do you think is my problem and what should I expect to do in order to fix it. I talked to a mechanic who told me if it was a leaky head gasket it would be aroudn $2000 to fix it... (ouch).

DavisZR1
12-24-2005, 08:20 AM
http://www.fatherlarryscorvetteshop.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?threadid=1295


http://www.fatherlarryscorvetteshop.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?threadid=1052

http://www.fatherlarryscorvetteshop.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?threadid=828

Look around and you find more. What is the .mileage on your VETT.

MNorlander
12-24-2005, 01:31 PM
The engine has 138,000 miles on it.

edit: I've read through the last 7 pages of the forum and found nothing that could really help me

DavisZR1
12-24-2005, 08:22 PM
With that much mileage, it could be a number of things. The first thing I would do is take a compression test on each cylinder. Check the timing chain for play and the timing sprocket and crank sprocket for wear. Check the distributor for play. Intake manifold gaskets are also a common problem on this year. Also, check fuel pump pressure and oil pressure. Have someone that has a tech 2 monitor and check your codes. Check your oxygen sensor unit, cap, rotor and water pump. A lot of times the cap collects moisture and can cause a rough idle. If you're not mechanically inclined, I would bring it to a reputable shop and have them do a complete diagnosis. If you're not the original owner and don't have any maintenance records, your working in the blind. Ask local Corvette clubs in the are where you can find a reputable Corvette mechanic. It seems as if you have more than one problem, and for anyone on the board here, to try to diagnose each item, without looking at your car, would be impossible. Good luck and let us know how you make out.:dunno:

MNorlander
12-24-2005, 11:45 PM
Thanks for your response. My father and I are completely stumped on this, and everyone I've talked to has given me different ideas of what it could be. I have just been shying away from actually going in and paying money to diagnose it, because that seems a bit ridiculous to me. I guess I will have to.

I will probably have it done this following week. I'll update you.