On my 84 2.8l camaro, whenever I try to start it, gas ours out of the little screen on the top of the carb, and it won't start. Why is it dong that, and what do I have o do to fix it? Thanks alot.
five7kid
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May 4, 2026
Sounds like the needle valve is stuck open or leaking. That usually happens due to a piece of debris stuck in it. If that's the case, it won't clear itself because the fuel bowl is too full, the float is jamming the needle against the seat, which keeps that piece of debris in there.
Old trick I've used a few times to clear out a piece of junk in the needle/seat: Disconnect the fuel line at the carb and plug it. Start the engine - you'll probably have to keep it floored since it's flooded. After it starts, keep it running as best you can playing with the throttle, it will stop when the carb bowl is drained. Hook up the fuel line again (put in a new fuel filter while you're at it) and start it up. The float will have dropped down, releasing the needle from holding that piece of debris, and the rush of fuel in will flush it out (this may take a couple of tries). The debris will now be in the fuel bowl, but most likely won't hurt anything else for a long time.
If that doesn't work, you're looking at taking the carb apart to clean or fix it up (i.e., putting a rebuild kit in it).
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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
Old trick I've used a few times to clear out a piece of junk in the needle/seat: Disconnect the fuel line at the carb and plug it. Start the engine - you'll probably have to keep it floored since it's flooded. After it starts, keep it running as best you can playing with the throttle, it will stop when the carb bowl is drained. Hook up the fuel line again (put in a new fuel filter while you're at it) and start it up. The float will have dropped down, releasing the needle from holding that piece of debris, and the rush of fuel in will flush it out (this may take a couple of tries). The debris will now be in the fuel bowl, but most likely won't hurt anything else for a long time.
If that doesn't work, you're looking at taking the carb apart to clean or fix it up (i.e., putting a rebuild kit in it).
------------------
82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, ZZ3 intake, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam, ported World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 600 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).
Thanks alot. A freind of mine said it was probably something down in there. He said he once had a mud wasp build a nest in there. Hopefully I won't have to rebuild the carb, cause that woul just be a pain in the neck! Thanks again