I've got a serious problem

[vilant]

So, I decided to drive my Z to Ocean City NJ for a corvette show @80+ mi.. On the way down I started to notice the engine stumbling in 6th going @80mph if I hit the gas pedal. Didn't think much of it, as the fuel injectors are the original '90's and was planning to change them this winter. But when I stopped to pay tolls I almost couldn't accelerate it was stumbling so badly. I made it down, but now I'm really nervous it won't make it back. I also noticed the engine knocking now when the RPM's fall below 1000. My questions are these
1- It's stumbling badly, but as long as I accelerate slowly it drives (noisly). Do you think it will make it 80mi.?
2- The knocking I'm hearing below 1000 rpm's, is it directly related to the bad fuel injectors?
3-When I had it inspected in Aug. there was a ton of codes, like cam sensor, MAP sensor, some hi and lo vacuum codes. Are these related to the bad injectors as well?
4- Once I get it home, I can't drive it until the injector change. Since I'll have the engine torn apart should I order other parts? Like MAP sensor, cam sensor. Not sure what I'll have access to when I take apart the top part of the engine.
Any help is greatly appreciated, as I am complete nervous wreck right now. It will be very costly to have it towed home. And now I have to pump in another few thousand just to get it running right.

[Kevin]

if you're less then 100 miles from home, call and join AAA plus for $82 if you're under 200 miles get AAA premier for $117. As for the codes, I'm not sure. I didn't have any set when my injectors were bad, either time. I did drive from pittsburgh to the hotel in bowling green and then to the ncm with 2 dead injectors and several bad ones. As long as it's just injectors, it's drivable. it wont' be fun, but it's drivable

[vilant]

Originally Posted by Kevin

if you're less then 100 miles from home, call and join AAA plus for $82 if you're under 200 miles get AAA premier for $117. As for the codes, I'm not sure. I didn't have any set when my injectors were bad, either time. I did drive from pittsburgh to the hotel in bowling green and then to the ncm with 2 dead injectors and several bad ones. As long as it's just injectors, it's drivable. it wont' be fun, but it's drivable

Good idea on AAA, I'm looking into now.

[tomtom72]

You could drive it back home as long as you realize it's going to be like driving with an egg under the gas pedal. If you can get AAA to flatbed her home I would say that's a better way to go.

The knocking is the D/M flywheel reacting to the uneven power from the dead cylinders due to no fuel so be gentle on her from that perspective if you drive her home.

Well, on the DTC's. I would just hook up a scanner and see what the ECM is telling you; clear the DTC's and re-scan to see if they come back and then go from there. If it were me, and I was certain it was injectors, I would just pull the plenum and do the replacement and then scan her once that job was done. When my OE injectors went out on mine, she didn't post any DTC's at all.

I would replace all the consumables once I had the plenum off: coils & wires; make sure the reserve tank is good, check valves r&r, check the hose system for the secondaries, maybe even toss in a new solenoid for the secondary vacuum system, make sure the MAP hose is good & oil free along with the sensor, make sure the secondary actuators are good and working up to FSM spec, I'd consider replacing the two coolant temp sensors in the left I/H. Depending on your disposition, pull the coil rack and have the starter rebuilt, Alternator, clean up the oil mess in the valley, and check the CCVB cover for looseness and maybe a new gasket as well. You can buy the gaskets in a complete kit from either Jerry or Kurt White along with most of the parts under there. I think that's enough to get you started so I'll stop spending your money for awhile! LOL


Tom

[Paul Workman]

Having had the experience of a burned valve; one on the Z and one on the F150, personally I'd shy away from driving it anymore until that issue is run to ground on the chance it is injector(s). If it were me. (The cost of a tow is a drop in the bucket, compared to replacing a valve. JMO.)

P.

[DaveK]

I had a similar issue a couple of years back and also worried it was the injectors etc. I started simple though and changed the plugs, that sorted it out. Might be worth a try for the low bucks and effort involved.

Thanks

Dave

[vilant]

Kevin, looked into AAA, and there's a 7 day waiting period. Which is smart, otherwise you get guys like me looking for a $100 tow, lol.
Step 1 is gettting it home. I'm going to try driving it as gently as I can and keep tow company # on hand JIC. Step 2 pull the codes again, there is a way I believe, to get them w/out purchasing a scanner (more money to spend on parts). Step 3 get an itemized list of parts I'll need, then fix it.
Tom, your scaring me, lol. That sounds expensive and time consuming to do all that. But, if it needs do be done so be it. I'm sure I'll be asking for more help from the brotherhood to help me do all that. Thanks.
Paul, I'm praying it's just the injectors and not the valves. Won't know for sure til I get it back and start tearing into it.
I've owned this car this car for less than 6 months and I already put 4g's into it and now it needs at least 2g's more. I've could of spent less, but I didn't think all this was going to happen so quickly. Beginning to feel I made a big mistake buying it.

[vilant]

Originally Posted by DaveK

I had a similar issue a couple of years back and also worried it was the injectors etc. I started simple though and changed the plugs, that sorted it out. Might be worth a try for the low bucks and effort involved.

Thanks

Dave

I'm not so lucky Dave, lol. The injectors are original, and I can't imagine that there still in good shape after 20yrs of ethanol. Remember, I have a '90. I believe the later models anticipated ethanol in fuel and modified the injectors for it. Was planning on an injector change, just not so soon.

[DaveK]

Joe

When it happened with mine I had the original injectors in too. Just changed those over this year (thanks to the WAZOO gang!).

Thanks

Dave

[vilant]

Originally Posted by DaveK

Joe

When it happened with mine I had the original injectors in too. Just changed those over this year (thanks to the WAZOO gang!).

Thanks

Dave

Well, I hope that's all what's wrong w/ it, but I'm not counting on it. I need to buy plugs anyway, so I'll give it try. I'll let you know if that's all that's wrong.