BigJoeker

Hello people, I been meaning to join this forum a lot sooner but been too busy. I forced myself to take a break this weekend because of the issue that just started with my car as of Monday.

I own an 1986 Type LT V8 Camaro, and about a month ago my car ran out of gas unexpectedly (my gas gauge acts like a speedo until its nearly out of fuel, weird?) anyways after I refueled it, it started to rough Idle real bad. A guy at Kragen told me its either my carburetor is dirty or the needles need adjusting. (And because of this rough idle my Camaro is burning through my gas.)

So I popped the hood and dropped some Carb cleaner in there, then drove it to work, still rough idling. When my shift was over I got back in my car and when I started it, no more rough idle. It was like that up until like I said Monday. I drove it roughly 20 miles to a pick'n'pull. After about say 3 hours of searching I decided to leave. When I got back in my car, bam, car was back to rough idling, but no check engine light. Drove it back home and got ready for work. When I hoped back into my car I started it, then the Check Engine light came on.

I just smogged my car too last Friday, past with well above average results. The only thing it had problems passing at first was the Gas Cap pressure check, failed 2/3. I also just got a full tune-up for it. And I degreased my engine.

Also, a few weeks ago I drove my friend about 60 miles to the hospital, about 90% of the way there my check engine light came on, I stopped at a gas station to check it out and smoke was coming from my oil dip-stick tube and I could hear boiling? Not sure if that could be a link or another problems of its own. So if anyone could help as to why these things are accruing and/or how to fix them please let me know. Oh and the car has about 125k on it. Thanks.

chas0218

Try and get yourself a PCV valve. Its the part that connects the vacuum tube up to your valve cover. This should take care of the smoke in the engine. Is your temp on your car running hot? Is anything out of the ordinary other than the idle and intermittent check engine light?

The boiling might be your fuel boiling...this is called vaporlock. It is when your fuel becomes too warm and evaporates before it can be mixed with air to be sucked into the engine.

BigJoeker

Thanks, I didn't think about the PCV Valve.

Well, most my gauges are messed up, going to try and get that fixed. But unless my temp gauge is lying to me it says my engine is cool. It stays near the bottom and I've never seen it rise above 1/4.

The only thing out of ordinary is it eating a lot of fuel. Just driving to work I have to refuel it after a few days.

Mr_Gigglz

i've got the same issue, also an 86 carbed, its running really rich on gas, i get at best 10 mpg. At the ohio echeck it failed with 980 hydrocarbons and the limit was 150 (unburnt fuel) this is also a problem you want to get fixed without running the vehicle, running rich will burn oil and create week points in the pistons, also burning the rings
the problem seems to be the choke, the vacuum pull off wasn't working, replaced that and the spring opening the valve was missing.
also check the fuel to air mixture screw

naf

iTrader: (7)

Don't tinker with the idle mixture screws or any other settings on the carb just yet. Check your trouble codes:

https://www.thirdgen.org/service-eng...ht-error-codes

Replace your PCV if the ball inside doesn't rattle around when you shake it.

Make sure your choke is opening. It should be closed when cold then slowly open until it's 90 degrees straight up after a few minutes of running. Ensure the single wire going to it is connected and making good contact.

If you haven't already, or don't know when it was last done, replace your dist cap/rotor, plugs, wires and O2 sensor. This is routine tune up stuff and it's a pretty strong rule not to start dickering with the carb until you know the ignition is up to snuff.

Welcome to TGO. Let us know how it goes and we can steer you further if needed.

KNBlazer

double check that your EGR is operating within specs... also double check that your connectors on the carb are securely attached... meaning the I/M and the TPS ... don't just visually check but actually physically confirm that they are attached...

Mr_Gigglz

i'm not so sure about him, but its an 86 there is no o2 sensor
and the choke flap, how does it open? is there a spring somewhere?

chas0218

Depends if its either manual or automatic.

naf

iTrader: (7)

An 86 should have an O2 unless it's an export model. Review the sticky at the top of the carb forum on the E4MC for some basic info on the carb and choke.

Manual or automatic what?

Mr_Gigglz

it's automatic. The pulloff works but the flap never opens.
Where is the o2 sensor? There isn't one in the exhaust. All the cat has is a egr

naf

iTrader: (7)

If the choke isn't opening check that the single wire to it has 12 volts while the engine is running. If that's good you may need a new choke coil. If not we can chase down the problem through the wiring/relay.

Mr_Gigglz

it's sounding like the $8 conversion to manual choke would be easier

BigJoeker

Well, thanks for the Codes, I just got back from the shop (and I was about to do a code search) that did a code check for me. The codes I got were 23 and 53. I put fuel cleaner in and sprayed the hell out of the carburetor with carb cleaner and it no longer rough idles and my fuel consumption is back to normal.

So the guy at the shop wants me to see what the most likely problem is before he does work on my car, he doesn't want to work on it if it ain't the problem, so what do you guys think it is? Thanks for the help too guys.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

https://www.thirdgen.org/service-eng...ht-error-codes

23 = Throttle position sensor error (part of the carburetor)
53 - are you sure it was a 53? Might be the EGR solenoid.

Make sure both are properly connected electrically.

duckmanquacker

My 84 has an 02 sensor

BigJoeker

Yeah 53, I remember his device saying solenoid. So now I can stop by his shop for a price range.

Also, one more problem I think. When I start my car up to warm it up. After about 30 seconds into it this knocking sound comes. When I rev the motor it speeds up with it. Then after about another 30 seconds the sound goes away. Any clue to what this is?

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Then the choke thermostat isn't doing what it is supposed to do. Most of the time it's because it isn't getting 12 volts to warm it up, but sometimes it's a bad thermostat.

It's in the driver side exhaust manifold.

The cat doesn't have EGR. It has A.I.R.

thetrucker21

check to see if you have the electronic idle working

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Ditto my 84.

Do the tune up if it hasn't been done (You did say it was done in an earlier post right?), make sure everything was connected right. I had a loose plug wire that started arcing to my headers. Caused a bugger of a rough idle and rough ride at low RPMs.

naf

iTrader: (7)

maybe he's fixed it by now.....

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

LOL I didn't even look at the date.

Mr_Gigglz

The rough idle was caused 2 spark plug cables melted but were still together.
Ironically, just earlier today, the coolant temp sensor just errored out (error code 15) on the OBDI. I'm gonna pop that in and see what happens, it still has been running a little bit rich and a wee bit too warm, which i hope is the sensors fault.

naf

iTrader: (7)

If the sensor has failed 'cold' then the engine will stay in warm-up mode and run rich and hot. Check the pigtail going into the sensor. It's a common fail item and may need to be replaced. The CTS rarely goes bad, but it's possible.

Mr_Gigglz

yeah that connector is non existent. the previous owner seems to have rigged it up with the wires on the pins. I'm not sure which wire connects to which pin either.

naf

iTrader: (7)

Doesn't matter which wire goes where. You should be able to pick up a replacement pigtail at AZ in their electrical help aisle. May be called a GM CTS pigtail.

The pigtail takes a beating from the AIR hose that runs right over it on the carbed cars.

Shawn Danubio

this is what is going on with my car everything from the rough idle to the temp guage not ever getting above 1/4 what should i do to solve this. the only things i have done is change my plugs and my distributer. i also change a sensor that was underneath the distributer.