I just recently bought a 1989 Camaro RS. When we went down to buy it, the guy that sold it to me took me for a test drive around the block. It had no problems whatsoever, idled great, ran and accelerated great, but then he put some gas in it from a "unique" container (was moldy on the outside, with black spots on it). Now, I was satisfied with the test drive (about a 15 minute test drive), because it ran great. But...driving it back home, it started to die randomly on the road. It didn't matter if I had my foot on the throttle, gunning it, or had it off, not doing anything. It would just start to die, then kick back up again (if the throttle was held down), but do that same thing over and over if I had my foot on that throttle. At idle when it was doing that, it would just die. We got it home, and it died in the driveway. I can start it, and about 4/10 times it'll stay running at idle without help from me. It idles fine, but will die. And when in idle, I can hear little sputters every now and then. Is it just bad gas, or is it something worse? Like I said, it just dies randomly when I'm driving, no matter how fast I'm going, or how slow. Doesn't matter if my foot is on or off the pedal, but it will die instantly if it's not on it, or just go "Vrrrmmm!-pffft....Vrrrmmmm!-pffft" Kinda like I would be punching the accelerator over and over, even though my foot is firmly on the pedal.

I would put fresh gas in with some water remover and that should take care of your problem .

Yeah, if he put bad gas in from a container, it couldn't be too much. Fill it up with good gas and try that first. If that doesn't get it , check fuel pressure.
Good luck!!

Did you get it fixed ?

Well, I changed the oil and PCV valve; both were in terrible condition. Added Transmission fluid....

Well, it takes 2 tries to start, then it runs fine. I can go anywhere without problems.

It's the trip back that kills me. I go about halfway home, and then it starts to have problems. It feels like it wants to switch gears WAY before I get up to speed, such as going into overdrive as soon as 32mph. Then, when I go to stop, it dies, like it's having problems shifting down.

This only happens if I'm somewhere for about an hour, then decide to go back out.

Gas seems fine, now, though. It purrs beautifully

Have you tried to adjust your TV cable ?

Can't say I have yet ^^

It's the linkage, correct?

Oh..wait, is it under the air intake?

Ack, nevermind...I NEED HELP >.<

It only seems to do this the second time driving, when it's still warm.

Oh well...oh, and it takes 1-2 tries when I first start it in the morning to keep it running at idle, but it's fine then.

It sounds like a basic tune up is in order. I am not much on auto tranny stuff, so I'll bow out of that part. But on the dying, it sounds like the car just hasn't been maintained at all. Plugs ,rotor, distributor cap, maybe even plug wires, depending on your money situation.

and I would adjust the Tv cable all you have to do is push in the adjuster and pull the cable houseing back towards the firewall and let go of the adjuster plunger then take you throttle and open it all the way by hand and you should hear clicking from the adjuster as you open the throttle once you get it adjusted you should be fine if there is no other problems with the trans .

Okie...I have some more info about the Camaro (Luna, by the way) To pass along.

These are my current problems:
In the morning, or if I let it sit for a bit, it will crank over for about 10 seconds. If I stop and start again, it starts right up. I have to push on the accelerator to get it to start (it will die randomly about once or twice, then it's fine).

Okay, so I can handle that problem easy. I just have to crank it longer than usual. Next problem: The transmission.

So, if the transmission is cold (The TV cable is adjusted; Thanks for the info ^^) it shifts normally and well while driving. The problem is when it gets warmed up...once it does, it will shudder about 6-7 times before it switches into overdrive, then it does it's "Super-low-shifts-at-low-RPM". Basically, when it's warm, it shifts gears WAY too fast, such as this:

1-2: At 10 mph
2-3: At 20 mph
3-4: Around 28 mph
4-Overdrive: About 35 mph

Then, it wants to stall when I go to stop, so I have to press on the accelerator a bit to keep it from dying. I haven't let it die in awhile, but it gets rather annoying.

Any help?


(Other miscellaneous info:
Fan turns on when the key is on "On" I know that they just put a relay or switch on to make it do that.
Fuel pump runs when car is off and the key is "On", as well.
I have some switch right below the light switch that seems to have no use at all, except to make me worry about what it does. I've flipped it up and down, but nothing different happens)

change the trans fluid, put something like valvoline max life in it (some high milage fluid) and a thing of lucas trans fix, that could slove your problem

Okay...I changed the plugs yesterday with a buddy of mine, and the car purrs now. Doesn't want to die when I come to a stop, nor does it want to die when I start it up anymore. I still have the problem of it not wanting to start when cold, though. Any ideas on what the problem could be there?

It could be something to do with your coldstartinjector .

Did you get the cold start problem figured out yet ?

Can't say I have, yet. Going to be replacing the rotor, distributor cap, and wires this weekend, so I'll update you guys by then.

The injectors are good, though. We tested them out, and they work fine. All nice and clean now, too.

Make sure your cold start injector is working also .

where is the cold start injector on a L03? my '91 doesn't have one, I know some of the TPI cars had them, but L03's are TBI, and I didn't think TBI cars had cold start injectors.

THERE AINT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for that I am subscribed to many threads and forgot you had TBI . Check your IAC and your TPS and see if they need adjusting my 2.8 was having cold start problems also and Monday I adjusted both and have almost no cold start problem now .

Well, we changed the wires, cap, and rotor yesterday, and she runs a bit better....

But she still misses at idle every now and then. Also, I'll be looking into the IAC and TPS pretty soon.

We think the transmission might be at fault for when we go to stop, though...not sure if it's going out, as it takes 2-4 seconds, depending on the time of day and temperature, to switch into drive. Basically, shifting it into drive, it won't immediately lunge forward. It hesitates for too long >.<

When you check your IAC and TPS also check your timing and your trans fluid and make sure it is still full and red colored and not brown or black . You may need to do a filter change on the trans .

Trans fluid is red, like it should be...

But now we're back to square one.

It wants to die randomly again in the middle of the road, especially when it tries to shift into 4th or overdrive. Feels like it shudders, and the engine just guns down. Then, after it dies, when I go to start her, she'll run for about 2 seconds, then die again.

I'm almost positive it has to be something with that transmission, oddly enough.

I still need to look at the IAC and TPS, though.

You have three things that bother me with your car 1 fans come on with key on 2 fuel pump runs with key on and 3 you have a switch that seems to be for nothing . #3 may be a switch to lock your torque convertor causing the running and starting problems .

I think they just bypassed a switch for the fan to come on.

About the fuel pump: They replaced in last summer for some odd reason, and had a hole in the back of the car that I can't find that they used to change it with. Some of the relays have had their wires spliced and cut, too.

I'll drive with the switch down, then. I think I'll nab a picture and post it on here, so you can see what it looks like. Also, on my windshield wiper switch, they cut a wire that went to the base of it, for some reason.

I don't know...the kid that owned it before me never took care of it for 4 years. He stated, and I quote, "I haven't opened the hood for 4 years. Never had to get under there because it's a pain to open, and no lights ever came on."

Meh, just doesn't want to stay on for now. I'll be driving the Firebird until she gets better -_-

I am having this same problem, though it seems as if my car just runs out of gas. Say it has 8 gallons in it and it shutters and such. I fill it up and it runs perfect until i get down to about 8-9 gallons in the tank. Maybe a fuel pump? Please help