1989 Corvette Help! Code 36.

Code 36 means a MAF burn off failure.
The MAF power and MAF burn off relay on your car has the same part
number.
I would recommend changing both relays at the same time since they are
around 10 bucks a piece.
If these were changed already,make sure the connection to the MAF
sensor/and relays is good.
Also make sure the ground wires on top of the transmission housing to
engine didnt come loose or corroded.A bad ground can be a cause for this
code also.

Sometimes the MAF sensor is at fault.
It will get a build up and cant read the flow numbers anymore.It wont be
able to complete the burn off cycle when you shut the car off.

A cheap way to test this is to unplug the MAF and start the car and
drive it a short distance.
Usually unplugging the MAF sensor will make the car hard to start or
stall.
If your car runs a little better, and doesnt stall like before, the MAF
sensor might need to be changed.
I would suggest the relays before the MAF sensor.Another test for the
MAF sensor is while the car is running,take a screw driver or wooden
handle and tap on it.
If the idle changes or the car stalls, its likely a bad MAF sensor.

A hunting idle can be caused by a vacuum leak.
It will go up and down from that. One way to check this is to start the
car and let it run and use a can of CARB cleaner spray and spray
different areas of the engine to see if the idle changes.If it does, you
found a vacuum leak.The areas to spray and check is the intake manifold
and TPI runners.
Stalling is also caused by a bad EGR as well.
Verify that the EGR isnt stuck in a open position.

If your car has over 60,000 miles now, it might be time for a throttle
body clean up.It will need to be removed, along with the sensors off it
and cleaned up with a solvent.(like carb spray or equivalent).You need
to get the black carbon off the throtle blades and pasasges.
This can affect the IAC and make it run poorly.

If the dealer says the ECM wasnt getting enough voltage, it can mean
theres a drop in the system somewhere.They should have the GM repair
manual and trace the wiring back step by step and see if there is a
short somewhere.
I have never heard of an alternator causing a problem like this.If the
alternator was giving out a bad charge, then alot of other systems would
have been affected too, not just the MAF problem.
The dealer should have checked the voltage at the ECM itself and the MAF
and the Burn off relay and recorded any changes.
A big drop in voltage can come from a bad shorted wire or a bad ground.

Since you changed the alternator and saw no improvement,it shows what
kind of idiots are working at the dealer.
Dont go back there.

Find a TPI specialist or Corvette repair shop near your area.

Feel free to email me anytime and let me know if you need more advise or
what parts you had changed and we can solve this together.
It pisses me off that no one at dealers seem to know how to check the
proper voltage to the sensors and relays and tell you you need parts you
dont need.They have access to all the repair manuals and tech scanners
and still try to tell you its a part that wont solve the problem.
It makes you think the car is a POS, when in fact, its just someones
ability to fix it right the first time.
I dont think the car is bad, its the TECHS!!!!

Some dealers have fantastic techs, others have what I call part
changers. They know how to remove and change a part,but do not have a
full understanding of how it works or know how to
find out why it failed ,or know how to check the voltage from the ECM to
the sensor, to the realy to the fuse.It doesnt tke much for a tech to
learn these skills.

Let me know and Good Luck!!

-Bill
86 Z51 Coupe

Did you check the ECM ground wires to the block and all major ground
connections?
I am not sure about the 89 but on my 92 the ground wires from the ECM
run down along the firewall, across the top of the catalytic converter
and are attached to the left side of the engine at the bell housing
behind the Oil filter. These wires are easily damaged or become loose
and can be major intermittent problem with Corvettes. Check this first
and make sure you have good clean connections. I would then check all
other ground wires for tightness. Also pull the ECM connectors and check
for pin damage or water intrusion.
Hope this helps
Peter

EGR..EGR sensor..MAF..Bad injector could be intermitant. good luck

I had a similar problem on my '93 Ford Probe. Turned out to be a head gasket leak. It ran fine at above idle RPM's but wanted to stall when idling. The ECU would try to prevent the stall & increase the fuel mixture for a second or so. This would cause it to idle a little faster which smoothed it out some but then the idle came back down & the cycle started all over. Sometimes randomly. Found out that at higher idle rpm's, the cylinder's internal pressures would prevent the engine coolant from leaking in but at idle, the cylinder pressure was less than the coolant pressure & would leak in. If the coolant or oil is slightly off in color thatn I would seriously suspect this.

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Code 36 for an 88, might be something to look at for an 89 if the ecm has been changed a few times.
I currently have an 89, with errors 36, runs great but the "service engine" light goes on and off for a month or so at a time. alternator died last week, replaced and reset the codes, error came back.
Number: 88-251-8a
Section: 8a
Date: June, 1988
Subject: Intermittent Connection To The ECM
Model And Year: 1988 Chevrolet Passenger Cars And Light Duty Trucks T: All Chevrolet Dealers
A condition may exist in which the female terminals in the connector to the ECM do not make a solid connection to the male pins in the ECM (see illustration). This can result in an intermittent condition, in any circuit operated by the ECM. The Service Manuals direct a check of connections any time an intermittent condition is found, and this may be the cause of some of these conditions.
Visually inspect the terminal using a flashlight, or use a .95 mm pin gauge. The gauge should not pass freely through the female terminal. Do not probe the terminal with anything other than the pin gauge, as probing could damage the terminal. If the female terminal does not grip properly, replace the terminal with P/N 12020757. General directions on wiring repair are shown in Section 8A of the service Manual.

I just picked up my 89 corvette from the shop. I had the same code, they replaced the MAF power relay and the MAF burn off relay. Be careful though cause they changed them and it ran good for a day and was right back to the same problem. So they thought it was just a bad relay. They changed them again and had the same thing happen. Both those times the relays came from NAPA auto parts. They decided to try a different place and it now works good. It had them confused for a few days cause it would run great and then usually after it sat over night the problem came back. They also found a shorted ground to the relays. Hopefully this will help you.