Thought Everything Was Good But Stuff Keeps Popping UP!

jacob9582 · 05-20-05, 11:22 PM

took the vette out for a ride today for about an hour, it drove beautifully. got home and about 3 hours later took it out again and the temp gaugue kept going up really fast. i pulled into a parking lot and i could smell the coolant. coolant was pooring out of the bottom of the car around the back of the engine. i followed the hissing noise and found that the heater hose split near the bottom underneath the distributer. i ran home and got another hose and fixed it right there, so crisis averted for the moment. i drove the car and it once again drove perfectly. i got home and thought to myself ive tried everything on this car except the windshield wipers. the wipers turned on normally and the washers squirt fine but the wipers over lap the outer edge of the windshield and make a clacking noise. is there a way to shorten their travel???? The major problem is that when i return the wipers to the off position they do not ever shut off, EVER!!!! i have to put the switch in the off position, turn off the car and then start it again to get the wipers to put themselves away. so right now i need to get this wiper situation sorted and then i think for the moment i will have all the problems sorted. one other slight thing i have noticed is a sort of rattle when i hit bumps comming from the front right i believe, sounds like a small metalic clink. no big deal but i thought i would throw it out there. if you guys can offer any help it will be much appreciated. i ordered the different fan sensor to make the fan turn on at 200 instead of 238. thanks again!!!

87blackroxi · 05-21-05, 12:20 AM

On the winshield wipers, Are they new or have you had them for the life of the car? i ask because I bought my car in november in connecticut. drove down to florida with it. I had some rain in pennsylvaia and the wipers sucked but were enough for about an hour until i hit an autozone. swapped the wipers and blades and started driving in the rain again. the driver side would hit the outer edge of the windshield where the metal barrier is. It only started after i switched wiper holder. Is this the case?

jacob9582 · 05-21-05, 12:33 AM

the wipers have not been changed, i have had the car about 2 months. yes the driver side wiper hits the outside as you discribed. they also will not shut off.

WNH · 05-21-05, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacob9582

Thought Everything Was Good But Stuff Keeps Poping UP!
i have had the car about 2 months. .

Fixing these older C4's is like a hobby, enjoy it, its fun.

Rogue · 05-23-05, 05:45 PM

Replace wipers with OEM ones. Wiper problem solved.

As for different things cropping up on your car, it's just part of the territory of having an older car. Car's don't last forever. They're mechanical. And mechanical things break down over time and usage. Then, you've got many owners that don't use OEM parts and/or high quality replacement parts to keep everything in tip-top shape.

The older and higher mileage your Vette, the more work/parts/money you'll need to put into it so that it's dead reliable. And one thing about these cars, don't skimp on parts. Use the best or near the best that is available. A Corvette is not a Cavalier so stay the hell away from Pep Boys!

jacob9582 · 05-23-05, 07:33 PM

yea i hear you on that one, at the moment i just need to sort the wipers and im in good shape, car is running and looking great! thanks for the help, i have got a repair manual im going to read about the wipers tonight!

JonM · 05-23-05, 07:48 PM

Sounds like you have a bad switch...

Did you buy the HELM manuel with the electrical supplement?

After you get the electrical problem sorted out...their is an adjustment you can make to the wipers so they don't hit the sides...get them to shut off first.

The clicking in the front may be the little center (plastic) hub on the wheel...see if you can move it using your finger

jacob9582 · 05-24-05, 08:23 AM

yea ive got the HELM manual. im going to read in there about the wipers and the switch. i may just have a wire loose or something. i will also check the front wheel center cap. thanks.

Randys88Vette · 05-25-05, 09:21 AM

Ok...this may sound crazy...but I would hear a "rattle" from the engine compartment every now and then when I hit a bump too. Didnt think much of it at first, then started doing some investigating. I found a mounting braket that was attached to the header downpipe (made of metal) on the passenger side , that looks like it was there to keep a line of some sort away from the header. It wasnt attached to anything and was rattling, so I took it off. Drove the car around for awhile and still heard the noise. Figured I would find it sooner or later. Then, on the weekend, I was doing the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, filters, etc. And lo and behold...guess what I found.

Laying between the header and the block, near the #2 cylinder, was an old spark plug!! No telling how long that was there! Took me a couple of cuts on the hands and a few choice words, but I got it out.

And now, the rattle is gone!! Go figure that one.