Tech / General EngineWhy is my car making that sound? My car won't start! Combination questions? Don't see a board for your problem or have other technical or engine specific questions? Post them here!
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Hello, I have 86 firebird with a 2.8l v6, automatic, I just bought the car for $500 a few days ago and was taking it for a spin, when I start it, it idles high and sound great after it takes a min for it to turnover. After it warms up or I put it in gear it drops to an idle of about 300-500 rps and if I stop quickly it dies on me and takes about 5 minutes in the middle of an intersection for it to start back up. If you have any tips or advice I would appreciate it. Thank you in advance.
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how high is it idling prior to warm up? it *may* be something as simple as adjusting the idle screw to raise up the idle a bit, since you should be around 500-600 rpm when warmed up. 300's definitely on the low side. does the bounce around when warmed up (before it dies)?
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1987 Trans Am, work in progress
2008 Pontiac G8
Retired: 1984 Camaro "ZF" 2.8L, 1989 Camaro RS
Customer Service Manager, 1A Auto Parts
I just bought and 86 camaro 2.8l V6 and it did the same thing. Every time I came to a stop just about I would the engine start sputtering around like it was idling to low then it would die. It keep shutting off when I was in traffic so I had to figure it out. I bought new spark plugs and wires and changed them and it hasn't die since. But I think what the main problem was who ever changed the spark plugs last had the gap set at half of what it should have been. The manual says the gap should be set at .045 I think, so you might what to check that.
So I purchased new spark plugs for it which im going to change tonight, hopefully that does the trick the only thing on the rpm reading is that I no longer have any gauges, they all shut off on me and my interior lights so I have no idea what my idle is at now, before they shut off it would turn over and idle at light 1300 rpm's then then slowly drop down to about 300-500, I can really feel my car just shimmy and try to die, and like I said if I hit a yellow light im pretty much screwed cuz me slamming the breaks or even slowing down quickly is a garauntee of my car dying.
When my gauges did work as well my check engine light was on but I no longer have any power to my gauges so I doubt I can even read a code since I heard you have to read the code off the flashing of the lights on the dash? not sure if thats true but I know I cant just plug it in at auto zone and have them tell me.
