88 Dash Pulsation & hard starting

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88C4RagTop - 26 Apr 2006 08:06 GMT

I finally got my car on the road. Waiting for new tires :)

Question: I replaced my battery & altenator but my dash still pulsates a
little. Is this a sign of impending doom? It's not as bad as it was before
I replaced the battery & alt.

Also, my vette starts very hard. Have to hold the pedal to the floor
sometimes and when it catches it bumbles at low rpm. It bumbles for a
couple minutes & then it's fine. It runs strong and no codes.

Sometimes it flashes right up. Especially if I just have it shut off for a
just a few mins. Longer than 10 mins and it's back to hard starting. I
know there could be a thousand things causing this but I was wondering if
someone had this exacpt same issue and resolved it?

TIA!

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PJ - 26 Apr 2006 15:51 GMT

> I finally got my car on the road. Waiting for new tires :)
>
> Question: I replaced my battery & altenator but my dash still pulsates a
> little. Is this a sign of impending doom? It's not as bad as it was before
> I replaced the battery & alt.

Congrats -- always great to be out of the garage.

Is this all dash/instrument panel lites (including radio, A/C panel
etc.) or just the digital LED panels (spedo, tach, fuel gage etc.) ??

If it's just the LED panels, it's probably a bad ground or a bad
day/nite dimming circuit. Certainly fixable. Sometimes, a bad ground
will also affect cruise control--that OK? All dash lamps -- headlamp
switch or cable connector.

> Also, my vette starts very hard. Have to hold the pedal to the floor
> sometimes and when it catches it bumbles at low rpm. It bumbles for a
> couple minutes & then it's fine. It runs strong and no codes.

Should start under any reasonable weather condition with the throttle
closed!

Sounds like two or more fuel injection problems. Best to just run
through the diagnostics in the Shop Manual. If you don't have the
manual, it will cost around $ 100 unless you can find one on E-Bay.
That money will be repaid by the savings on the first or second part
that gets needlessly 'thrown' at the problem.

> Sometimes it flashes right up. Especially if I just have it shut off for a
> just a few mins. Longer than 10 mins and it's back to hard starting. I
> know there could be a thousand things causing this but I was wondering if
> someone had this exacpt same issue and resolved it?
>
> TIA!

--
PJ
'89 Hookercar '02 e-blu coupe

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belrophon@hotmail.com - 26 Apr 2006 17:55 GMT

Thanks PJ. The cruise control seems fine as does the headlight switch.
It's just the dah as well. Not sure about the lighting sensor.
Should I cover it with tape or something to see if it stabilizes the
dash?

> > I finally got my car on the road. Waiting for new tires :)
> >
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> PJ
> '89 Hookercar '02 e-blu coupe

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belrophon@hotmail.com - 26 Apr 2006 17:56 GMT

> > I finally got my car on the road. Waiting for new tires :)
> >
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
> PJ
> '89 Hookercar '02 e-blu coupe

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PJ - 27 Apr 2006 17:27 GMT

> Thanks PJ. The cruise control seems fine as does the headlight switch.
> It's just the dah as well. Not sure about the lighting sensor.
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>> PJ
>> '89 Hookercar '02 e-blu coupe

If everything reads accurately and the cruise is working OK its most
likely just the lighting circuits. I've re soldered most of he lamp
connections on the circuit boards and cleaned up the connector contacts.
Here's a link that covers the basics and connectors:

<< http://www.corvettemagazine.com/1999/dec99/dash/dashp1.asp >>

--
PJ
'89 Hookercar '02 e-blu coupe

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88C4RagTop - 04 May 2006 06:46 GMT

Very cool! Thanx!!

88c4ragTop

>> Thanks PJ. The cruise control seems fine as does the headlight switch.
>> It's just the dah as well. Not sure about the lighting sensor.
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
> PJ
> '89 Hookercar '02 e-blu coupe

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