Mathius

Ok, this is the last time I let someone else borrow my car.

I have a 92 Camaro with a 3.1L & an automatic. I was selling the car to a friend, and was nice enough to let them make payments. About a month and a half after they had the car, she and her husband complained of random starting problems. I told them to try replacing the coil. The battery is still under warranty, and the alternator was new. She replaced the coil and her starting problems ended for a while, but the car began to run erratically, stalling at low speeds, and sometimes it wouldn't start. I told her I would check the fuel filter. I pulled the filter, and it seemed clear, so I put it back together. She left the car in the parking lot at work and after making only 2 payments in 4-5 monthes, handed me back the keys to my now non running car.

I pulled the battery and took it home and charged it. No point starting with a dead battery. Put the battery in and it fired up on the second try. Cool. I drove it to my mom' s apartment, where it stalled twice, and then when I was barely able to get it into the parking lot. It wouldn't run without pushing the gas. I came over the next day and it wouldn't start. The day after that my mom started it and drove it over to my placed. It kept trying to stall, but as long as she kept her foot on the gas it stayed running. By the time she got to my house, which is maybe 1-2 miles it was running on its own. Next day, wouldn't start.

Sounds like it isn't getting fuel, right? So I change the fuel filter. No good, wouldn't start. So ok, I went and got a new cap and rotor, plugs, wires, and oxygen sensor. I didn't necessarily know if any of those were the problem, but I figure it was due for it anyways.

Afterwards, it fired right up and while it sounds a little loud, it ran found. Might not have tightened the oxygen sensor enough, I'm not sure if it was loud when I drove it home from the parking lot or not. Can't recall. However, I drove it up the street after letting it run for a bit, and took it to the local car wash. I vacuumed the crap out of it. My friend was nice enough to smoke in it, and leave a bunch of ashes, and other crap in the car. (pop bottles, etc.) I started the car up and began to drive it to storage so I could pickup my air compressor and put air in the tires, when it started stalling again, doing the same thing. So I drove it home instead. By the time it was home it wouldn't start, nor did it start the next day. 2 days later it ran just long enough for me to move it in the parking lot. Today I tried pulling the codes and all I got was the diagnostic code 12. The car, btw. Started right up after sitting for 3 days.

I've heard that this could be a bad map sensor, but the computer isn't throwing codes. Someone also told me a bad catylatic converter could cause backpressure and I don't know if mine has ever been replaced. Could be a bad ECM too. Originally when it wouldn't start I thought it could be a VATS thing, but again no codes, and it has run.

What would be the next logical step? Fuel pressure gauge?

Any help would be appreciiated.

Mathius

85berlinetta2.8

mine did that when the mass air flow went, i just unplugged it and it drove fine. i know you dont have a mass air but try unplugging the map sensor.

if you think the cat is plugged take out the o2 sensor and leave just the hole and see if it stalls. or cut the car off and see if its clogged.

check the timing as well