Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

Help! I have a Camaro wont drive.

Old 08-05-2015, 12:46 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Alex.a123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Help! I have a Camaro wont drive.

I have a 1984 Camaro Z28 Automatic, it has been sitting for about four years. It belonged to my dad and he said i can have it if I can get it to run. It runs but does not drive. What could be the problem and how could i fix it. Please help.
Old 08-05-2015, 01:17 AM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (13)
 
Night rider327's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bowdon, GA.
Posts: 2,535
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 14 Posts
Car: 1988 Camaro
Engine: 355, 10.34:1, 249/252 @.050", IK200
Transmission: TH-400, 3500 stall 9.5" converter
Axle/Gears: Ford 9", detroit locker, 3.89 gears
Re: Help! I have a Camaro wont drive.

By "does not drive" you mean it will not move forwards or backwards correct?

With engine running, foot on brake, and you move the shifter into R or D do you feel any jerk, does the idle change, hear any whinning sounds.... Is anything diffent or any changes at all from P to R or D???

Check the transmission fluid level, a couple of quarts low and the transmission will not engage into gear.

Get under car with it safely supported and blocked, and look on driver's side front of transmission... You will see a cable going to side of transmission and up into the car. This is the shift cable. Is it hooked up to a arm sticking out of transmission?

If so have someone to move the shifter and watch that arm and cable... Does it move when the shifter is moved.

Start with those and we can go deeper into it if those are not the issues
Old 08-05-2015, 12:47 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Alex.a123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Help! I have a Camaro wont drive.

Originally Posted by Night rider327
By "does not drive" you mean it will not move forwards or backwards correct?

With engine running, foot on brake, and you move the shifter into R or D do you feel any jerk, does the idle change, hear any whinning sounds.... Is anything diffent or any changes at all from P to R or D???

Check the transmission fluid level, a couple of quarts low and the transmission will not engage into gear.

Get under car with it safely supported and blocked, and look on driver's side front of transmission... You will see a cable going to side of transmission and up into the car. This is the shift cable. Is it hooked up to a arm sticking out of transmission?

If so have someone to move the shifter and watch that arm and cable... Does it move when the shifter is moved.

Start with those and we can go deeper into it if those are not the issues

Yes does not move, and when I place foot on brake and change gear no whining sound, no jerk, so change at all.
Old 08-05-2015, 01:30 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
-=Z28=-'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,072
Received 46 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 84 Z28
Engine: 383 Stroker
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Help! I have a Camaro wont drive.

If you dont mind Night, If you found what night is talking about down by the trans, and when you have someone shift it and down by the tran DOES NOT MOVE, your linkage up by the shifter has come apart or has broke. Take apart the center console and make sure the linkage is hooked up and working topside. Careful not to move the "L" bracket that bolts to the tran, That HAS to be IN SYNC with the gear shifter. So check the linkage under the console and report back what condition it is in.. Chances are the shifter cable is broke or something came apart. When you have someone shift the car through the gears while you are under the car looking at the tran linkage, it should shift with the gear shifter.

I can only CAUTION you enough that those need to be synced perfectly or you will wreck your tran.

-Dan
Old 08-06-2015, 01:08 AM
  #5  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (13)
 
Night rider327's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bowdon, GA.
Posts: 2,535
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 14 Posts
Car: 1988 Camaro
Engine: 355, 10.34:1, 249/252 @.050", IK200
Transmission: TH-400, 3500 stall 9.5" converter
Axle/Gears: Ford 9", detroit locker, 3.89 gears
Re: Help! I have a Camaro wont drive.

No Dan, I don't mind at all. Good job on filling in rest of the details about cable at shifter and the fact that the shifter/trans has to be synced
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Vintageracer
Camaros for Sale
12
01-10-2020 05:33 PM
84z96L31vortec
Tech / General Engine
7
08-20-2017 12:16 AM
BADNBLK
Auto Detailing and Appearance
15
11-16-2016 09:12 AM
Streetstuff
Carburetors
13
09-07-2015 02:33 PM
BewleyBizzIROC
Transmissions and Drivetrain
3
08-14-2015 02:52 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Help! I have a Camaro wont drive.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:00 AM.