C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Code 36

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Old 03-26-2013, 05:53 PM
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blueracer2000
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Hi all,

I have a 1994 LT1. I took it out for a drive a couple weeks ago and everything was fine until I got about 20 miles into the drive. The motor began to stumble and was losing power. I pulled off the road and the motor died completely. I still had power to everything...just no motor. Engine temp was around 180 to 195. I waited a few minutes and got the motor restarted and headed home with no problem. It ran fine. Once in the driveway I connected my scanner and got a code 36... ign trouble/high pulse resolution fail A few days later I started the car up again in the driveway and let it run for about 30 minutes. I monitored the engine temp gauge and as it approached around 180 to 185, the engine died...like someone just turned off the ignition......no stumble or sputter. I did notice a slight stumble a few minutes before the engine quit. I checked with the scanner again but this time no codes at all. However I did a "check engine" light. The first and only time I ever got a code 36 was when I took it out for the drive when I first encountered this issue. From what I have read on previous posts concerning this problem I know that all of this most likely points to a bad opti-spark... but I had the opti-spark replaced with a new one last summer along with a new water pump. So assuming my new opti-spark and water pump are good, would the ECM or ECM harness be the next candidate?
Old 03-27-2013, 03:27 PM
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STL94LT1
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Doesn't sound like an ECM issue, almost certain it is opti related.. Start by checking your opti wire harness for corrosion.
Old 03-27-2013, 05:38 PM
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blueracer2000
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Thanks for the reply STL94. I will check the opti harness. I did forget to mention one thing that happened when I did one of my static startups in the driveway. I noticed the fan came on well before the engine got up to temperature. It stopped a couple of minutes later but the temp was still well below being hot. Would this indicate a possible opti harness problem as well?
Old 03-28-2013, 12:13 AM
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vetteoz
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Originally Posted by blueracer2000
Would this indicate a possible opti harness problem as well?
Read the electrical part of this

http://www.mainstreamtopics.com/foru...rt-diagnostic/

Fan run ( usually key on ) generally indicates the ECM is in " limp home " mode because it is not getting all the inputs it expects to see and requires to run the engine
Old 03-28-2013, 09:54 AM
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blueracer2000
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Thanks for the reply vetteoz. Your info adds another clue to the solving the problem. I had a new opti-spark installed last summer but I don't think the opti-harness was replaced with it. The water pump was also replaced when my mechanic (Corvette Care, Columbus Ohio) told that the old pump probably was throwing water and/or coolant into the original opti-spark eventually damaging it to the point of it needing to be replaced. I guess it's logical to assume that the old water pump could have damaged the harness input to the opti as well and may now be corroded.

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