93 Camaro - Starting/bogging problem

MarineOne · #1 11-07-2005, 09:55 AM

Last Tuesday, I drove my car home from work which is a 20-30 minute drive, about half of that being on the interstate. About 10 minutes after I got home, I jumped in my car to leave again. It fired up fine and I backed out of the driveway, but when I put it in drive to accerlate up the road (small hill), it started sputtering and jumping all around. I didnt put pressure on the gas pedal (I probably did but got no result, so I don't even remember it now) and eventually put the car in reverse to back down the road so I could get in my driveway again. The idle completely cleared up when backing down the road, and I didn't notice any problem as I pulled up into the drive.

I sat there for a moment and then backed down the driveway again; no problems. As I put the car in drive to accelerate up the hill, the same idling problem occured. It seemed like an obvious fuel problem to me. I sputtered up the hill before turning around and pulling back into my driveway again, killing the engine. After that, I couldn't even START my car again. It would turn over and catch, only to sputter for a second and then kill. This happened 3-4 times.

The car got towed to the garage the next day and they hooked up diagnostic tools to the fuel line - Apparently, fuel pressure and all was fine. They were unable to reproduce the problem; the car was starting fine for them and they took it around the block a few times.

Since getting the car back, I haven't had a problem with it not starting but noticed the coolant was quite low. I filled up the coolant and everything has been fine - for the most part. Occasionally, while driving (I've only had the car back for 4 days now) the engine will bog down as if I'm running on bad fuel. I plan on getting quite a bit of work done on my car in a few weeks, including a tune-up, coolant system flush, new exhaust, etc. Any ideas as to what the cause of this issue may be? Does anyone think that it may be the plugs and the tune-up will clear up the problem? What else should I consider? Thanks for the help!!

MR. DINGA

MarineOne · #2 11-14-2005, 10:43 AM

I see that no one has been able to post any thoughts in regard to my problem. To add some further info, I haven't gotten the plugs or anything changed yet as planned (hopefully tomorrow) but while accelerating up an on-ramp to the interstate this morning my car basically did the same as it did initially: it sputtered and didn't like the fact that I was accelerating. Once I got ONTO the interstate, on flat ground, the car accelerated fine. Any ideas?

wrightz28 · #3 11-14-2005, 11:14 AM

So it acts up only on a incline and in drive?

MarineOne · #4 11-14-2005, 02:09 PM

It also acts up when I hammer it - bogs a little, although it's not as bad as the two instances when I had problems on the incline. Since the initial problem, though, I've been on both of those inclines a number of times. Does it sound like plugs are misfiring/dead? Apparently the fuel system is fine...

wrightz28 · #5 11-14-2005, 04:53 PM

Eh, I think it is something in the fuel system. When they tested they probably did it in the shop on a nice level floor with no load. The proper way of doing it would be to test drive the vehicle with a gauge attached to be completely sure.

Other than that/before that, it definatley wouldn't hurt to freshen up the ignition system and O2 sensor (which can cause similar problems)

MarineOne · #6 11-18-2005, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrightz28

Other than that/before that, it definatley wouldn't hurt to freshen up the ignition system and O2 sensor (which can cause similar problems)

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get anything tested at a shop yet in accordance to what you suggested. However, the car has been running really smooth since getting the new exhaust, but it still bogs down a little at times. No major issues with it yet, but apparently the problem is still there.

So, I opened it up for the first time yesterday after getting off the interstate. Right around the shift point, I think it was 45mph, a loud bang and bump came from the front of the car. It wasn't a huge bump, as I've felt before when my tranny mount has gone out, but instead seemed pinpointed. So, when I got out of my car, I could smell the distinct aroma of a fried circuit board. This was somewhere in the front half of the car.

I posted a new thread about the O2 sensor, which I was thinking of changing out, and when I looked it up in my Chilton, I see that it is connected to/works along with the computer control module. Is it possible that became fried? Or would I definitely know that? I've driven it since then, even hammered on it, and have had no repeat problem.

Thanks for all the help.

wrightz28 · #7 11-18-2005, 02:40 PM

hmm, all I can say is when something fries enough to be smelt, it will usually leave a visual burn as well. Check your coil out, just for the giggles.

kinkykitty · #8 12-05-2005, 10:28 AM

my dad says that you should get you valves cleaned

kinkykitty · #9 12-05-2005, 10:32 AM

i have a ? for everyone my 93 rs is overheating and everything is brand new where should i start looking first.

wrightz28 · #10 12-06-2005, 12:04 PM

air pockets in the cooling sytem, stuck closed/backwards thermostat, no belt for starters, collapsing hoses...

and welcome.

MarineOne · #11 12-20-2005, 09:37 PM

Ok, so here's the latest with my car. Since my initials posts, the car has been fairly regular with the sputtering. Within the last two days, it's gotten dramatically worse and I've been able to deduce a few things.

First, when my car died the first day and I had to get it towed, I realized today that the starting problem occurred because I had flooded the engine somehow. So the question becomes: is it a fuel line problem or will faulty plugs/wires cause that to happen somehow?

The reason I am thinking that is because when I left work today, I pulled out of the lot and stepped on it a tiny bit and the car took off just fine. Upon slowing down and/or stopping and taking off again, my car didn't want to accelerate at all. Keeping my foot on the pedal with moderate pressure made the car bog down a lot, yet when I took the pressure of the pedal, I would maintain my speed just fine. It seemed basically as if too much gas was being fed to the engine for it to handle. I've noticed this across all ranges of speed, though it takes a lot more gas (stepping on it) at higher speeds to get the car to sputter in such a way.

This also ties in with my problems while driving up an incline - more gas to accelerate up the hill causes problems. The reason it's gotten worse the last few days is because it's happening on level ground now. Again, this doesn't occur all the time while accelerating, but especially when the car is cold or when hammering on it quite well after it's warmed up a bit.

Any ideas?

ROUDA · #12 12-20-2005, 10:05 PM

Im thinking its the fuel pump. it fells like its getting fuel then cuts out over and over like that, right. And real tough to start when cold but if on for a while then it will start almost with no trouble, only when engine is warm. (fuel pump)

MarineOne · #13 12-21-2005, 08:58 AM

Yeh, the last few days when I've been starting it I've made sure to hold the key back a little longer than normal because it cut out after starting it one day (I think last Friday). Then again, I live in Wisconsin and it's been single digits or below zero recently, too. So I guess when you say 'cold' it depends on if you're talking about the actual temperature or the fact that the car hasn't been started for 12 hours, regardless of the temperature. Either way, I'm obviously getting both sides of that.

ETA: To clarify, it's not REAL tough to start. Generally has been starting fine but the last few days it's been so cold so I've held the key back a few seconds longer. It does turn over and start right away when I turn the key, though. There's no instance of the engine turning over and me waiting for it to catch...

wrightz28 · #14 12-21-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarineOne

So, I opened it up for the first time yesterday after getting off the interstate. Right around the shift point, I think it was 45mph, a loud bang and bump came from the front of the car. It wasn't a huge bump, as I've felt before when my tranny mount has gone out, but instead seemed pinpointed. So, when I got out of my car, I could smell the distinct aroma of a fried circuit board. This was somewhere in the front half of the car.

whatever happened with this?

MarineOne · #15 12-21-2005, 10:45 AM

Nothing. I don't have ramps at my parents house to get my car up on so I haven't been able to look around at all. However, I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary except the above described, which was happening before the pop/burning smell.

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