new member here. looks like a cool forum, lotsa info!
picked up a 92 corrado VR6 on monday night from a friend. had a 1.5 year-old dead battery, so i threw in an Exide Marathon battery that i have from my race 65 corvair, and the VR6 started up on a charm. let it idle and warm up fully, then drove around the parking lot a bit, then checked the fluids, then off for a 5 mile test drive. ran absolutely great. tons of pull and chassis was set up just right. everything seemed pretty cool.
driving home, then car died on the freeway. the electrical system stayed on, lights / dash / and everything else ok, starter turned over great, but the engine didn't want to turn on. pulled over quickly, called up my friend, he comes and helps out. as i'm cranking the motor, he notices that there are sparks while cranking the starter from the transmission-ground wire area. we check that 13mm bolt, seemed loose, tightened it up fully. now, the car has stopped sparking from the transmission-ground wire area when cranking the starter, but no way to get the car fully running. so... towed the rest of the way home.
i did notice a few things today:
1. the one of the positive cables (dual wires) that goes from the + on the battery, to two 30amp fuses between the headlight and battery, seemed *SOMEWHAT* kinked from the slightly-larger exide battery sitting on it a bit, but the wire coating didn't puncture. the 30amp fuses were fine, and not blown.
2. the first time i started the motor today, after 2 days off, it kicked on for a few sputters, then died again. sounded really rough for about 2 seconds, then died.
3. when i turn the ignition key to the on position, the check engine light stays on. i'm not sure if this is supposed to stay only momentarily after turning the ignition on, or whether its a signal that i blew something in the ignition? not sure of this.
if the staying-on check engine light is a sign of a problem (just with the key turned to the on position, with no starting yet), are code-readers readily available for our cars? i could pick on up from a local auto joint....
or could i have fried the ignitor? i do have an extra one my friend gave me with the car.... but since it kicked over for about 2 seconds today, maybe thats not it?
thanks much guys!
.: new VR6 owner, slightly frustrated, but determined :.
