Dead Vette after less then 500 miles

[Raedon]

I baught a 99 hardtop that had heads/cams and a cartek clutch ($33k).

The owner said the car was perfect and I had a Corvette dealership check it out and paid for this service.

This last week it died with a MAF sensor code among others and after closer inspection found the car was far from perfect and might need a new engine.

I have some questions.

1) Where to buy a good working MAF (99 FRC), the car did not have any dust protection at all and was ingesting grime that may have killed the engine, but that is just speculation so when I get the new MAF I'll know more.

2) Oil pressure is good, oil level perfect, no oil under car.

[01Z06Wicked1]

33 thousand!!! MY GOD!!! Anyways you don't need a new engine if you have oil pressure\no knocking\no smoke whatever. If you got some dust\dirt in there than it will may decrease the life of the motor maybe it will go 130K instead of 150 or whatever. I would change the oil and if its REALLY dirty change it again in a week.

The MAF I would probably pick up from a discount dealer like Phoenix or SDPC whatever. Better yet you are in TX the land of the plenty find another vette owner that will allow you to use theres for a few miles and make sure that is it. I would resist the temptation to buy aftermarket when you are having problems with a part like that GM products are usually best. I would get a scanner on it and see what its doing. Its common in H\C swaps to not connect a vaccumn line in all the way, to pull the wires loose from the MAP connector Etc.

From what you described you have a relatively minor problem, what sucks is they can be the hardest to find. I would have it scanned though and try either a working or NEW GM MAF. JMHO.

Also post in the right section

[01Z06Wicked1]

Plus you may want to have it fine tuned, its not uncommon for a heads and bigger cam to die and pull a MAF code. If the tuning is not right on it could be reading other things incorrectly. But it certainly doesn't sound like engine failure

[Raedon]

ack! buy sell forum! Can I get a move?

The car is worth 33k in my book. Even if I need an engine repair.



The paint is fresh. and worth 10k by itself. and all the work done, the labor alone, personal or pro, is mind boggling.


Engine mods: Custom Flow Master Exhaust w/ chrome tips, Custom dry NOS system, ARE racing heads and cam package, custom computer program, TPIS Long tube headers, vararam intake, ported throttle body, LS6 intake, Cartek Clutch, 30lb injectors, off road pipes, (have pipes with cats also) 405rwhp/380rwtq, 490rwhp/496rwtq on juice.

Suspension/Brake mods: T1 bars, T1 Bushings, PowerSlot Rotors, Bilstein Sport shocks, ceramic brake pads.

Appearance mods: Ghosted Tribal flames that go down hood and doors. Hidden skulls in paint, painted emblems, Lowered 1", Shift light, front and rear blackouts, Flameball shifter handle, purple brake calipers, purple powder coated T1 bars, Z06 front screens, 5pt harness, Oakley Seat covers with purple inserts, GM floor mats w/ C5 logo, bezels around instrument cluster, Sound Partition, HUD added, flamed fire extinguisher, NOS bottle custom painted, Chrome Z06 Rims.

Major repairs: New transmission, New rear end housing, New Torque tube, Clutch replaced, New rear hub assemblies. All this was done during the past year at different times. So the drive train is like new.

The codes were:

B0-u1096h
B0-u1064h
b0-u1016h
B0-0521h

P0-0101
P0-0500

I was driving at 4500rpm in 4th and the car backfired (louder then any car I've owned) and died. After that it ran like someone remove a plug or an injector clogged. I don't get the NO OIL warning as there is oil.

There is no rattling or other major "hurt" sounds.

There is smoke out the back, the car is probably burning oil. The car is running so rich it floods and you can smell it. The MAF was covered in grime (I mean GRIME, I'm surpised it worked) and needs a replace no matter what.

[reddeath]

I've seen this car in a magazine I think. Was it dart cetters car or something like that. Hope all works out for you. Best of luck.
Brian

[JDBgn]

Clean the Maf and run the car for a while to see if the codes go away.
I've had mine tell me I was out of oil, no fuel, and a whole bunch of other things all at once.
Stopped the car. Shut it off and restarted. All the problems went away and haven't been back. Some sort of electrial connection thing.
The running rich is because of the back fire and the car is in some sort of limp to the dealer mode.
Or you can take it to the dealer and have them scan it and get charged an arm and a leg and probably your first born to boot.
Good luck.
By the way that paint job is really nice. Saw something like it here locally.
MHO

[01Z06Wicked1]

OK I take my previous statement back. I still think that is too much BUT if your going to pay 33 for 99 that is a GREAT car to do it on I remember when he had it up for sale!

I think you need to get the a new\different MAF and get the thing to a really good tuner. You figure about 350-500 bucks for a full dyno tune. If there is something really wrong they will figure it out. As long as its not Billowing bright blue smoke out the back your motor is fine.

On another note the insides of these motors are COVERED IN oil. Although the MAF should not be I wonder if its backfireing through the intake somehow. If you took the intake off you would amazed and the slim coverage. Maybe a catch can would be a good idea for you.

Also if the car is in limp mode on a H\C set it will run exactly like you are discribing. If at all

If your the "do it yourself" type then get some scanning software and have a board member take a look at it. I would do this..

1. Clean all the codes so it drives like its "supposed to"
2. Take it out for a spin with the logging software on.
3. Have someone from this or another LS1 board take a look at it.

Usually with cases like this there will be something out of wack like the MAP or MAF readings that can give you an idea of what is going on.

Hope that helps, that would be frustrating buying a ride like that and not being able to drive it

NICE CAR

[Chicago ZO6]

Raedon, have you actually had anyhting checked out on this car or are you content in whining to all vette sites on the planet complaining on your plight???? use brake cleaner ( you can buy that at an auto parts store. pep boys, Napa, etc) spray the MAF clean of all debris and try it. almost all aftermarket filters use some form of oil in the filters and over time it does build up on the elements. BUY some diagnostic software and clear all the codes. drive the car while logging and get it to a competent tune shop to have it leaned out a bit, spend a littel and change the plugs, fuel filter and maybe the wires. the car has decent mileage on it i always do that first when buying a used car... then you KNOW how old they are and this starts you down the path of KNOWING your car... IF your interested in knowing... if not get AAA and become friends with a shop because performance cars are high maintenace.... like your paint.. good luck in getting the car back on the road again!!

Sorry, all this guy has had a thread or 2 locked on Corvete Forum becasue of the attitude he came off with after buying a used car with no warranty and after being checked out with a reputable shop in Dallas.. the car had problems after owning it for a few weeks... he was threatening legal action when he has not been forthwright in how the car was driven.. one comment " these problems did not start happening until 143MPH in 5th gear" i am paraphrasing there as the thread is now locked... the previous owner is also very well known on the forum who is very reputable and sold the car with full disclosure to someone who has the knwoledge to put gas in the car and wax it..