Hi everyone! I have a 1982 Camaro Berlinetta and it has so many problems, including:

~The "Check Engine" light comes on ALOT..I've been told not to worry about it.
~The wipers turn on but won't turn off untill I turn off the car.
~The wiper fluid doesn't come out (the container is full).
~The e-break doesn't work.
~Sometimes when I turn it sounds like my wheels are rubbing on the car...I was told my tires are too big.
~The speedometer has been broken for months
~The needle on my gas thing bounces so I'm never sure how I'm doing on gas
~The driver side door handle wiggles and the pin isn't connected on one side...looks like someone maybe tried to break in.
~When I go too fast my car starts to shake (when the speedometer worked it would shake around 70-75 mph).
~The timeing belt broke but has been fixed..and ever since, there's a clicking under the hood.

JEEZ....any have this many problems when the first had their car?? Any ideas on how much it could cost to fix most of this??

 

 

Check engine = read the codes
Wipers = replace wiper motor, or at least the modual, the park circuit is bad
Wiper Fluid = Does the pump run? if not, new pump. If so clogged or broken hose.
E-brake = Either a cable or rear brakes or both.
Rubbing tires = Tires too big
Speedometer = cable, gear on tranny, or speedometer.
Gas Guage = wiring, guage, sending unit in tank.

Looks like you need to get a service manual and start turning wrenches.

Having a mechanic do this I'm estimating 600 bucks not including the correct tire size.

 

Check engine = read the codes
Wipers = replace wiper motor, or at least the modual, the park circuit is bad
Wiper Fluid = Does the pump run? if not, new pump. If so clogged or broken hose.
E-brake = Either a cable or rear brakes or both.
Rubbing tires = Tires too big
Speedometer = cable, gear on tranny, or speedometer.
Gas Guage = wiring, guage, sending unit in tank.
Timing Belt ???? this would have a chain = either incorrect valve lash, or bent valve i.e. sloppy work.

Looks like you need to get a service manual and start turning wrenches.

Having a mechanic do this I'm estimating 600 bucks not including the correct tire size.

 

my car did the same exact shaking prob at the same speed i changed the tires and the prob went away i tested it up to like 130 mph and it drives like a mini van now
realy smooth lol give that a try

 

Ya this stuff seems like very minor stuff... Cables, small parts etc. The shaking is probably your alignment or some other wheel/etc problem. Mine used to shake around 75 then I got a center link+alignment and now it doesnt. Have someone that knows a bit more about cars tell you your problems and show you how to fix em. Its always easier from hands on experience and with a person helping you! Good luck with it.

Nate

 

i could go on for hours what's wrong with my camaro but this isn't about my car this is about yours
first if you like to work on your on car (and beleive me it can be done...i've done most of my work )
Get the Chilton and/or Haynes manuals for the car. Try to get a better understanding...
Second hunt around for a good mechanical...ask around- ask friends/family being referred to a mechanic is better than finding one you don't know anything about...
I've had my car since august and it sat for two years...i've dropped 1000$ into it and i'm still going...but don't let that scare you in anyway...mine sat for two years and it's mainly all routine work.
Also check out those tires are they new or are they used. mine were bald and a few of the cords were broken and the minute i changed the tires it ran smooth.
also check the size of the tires. don't put anything bigger than 225/60/16 . I was told you put anything bigger than that on, you can ruin you suspension your shocks and anything ese--one more thing make sure your tires are the same size...i also found out one of my tires was bigger than the rest and that caused some shaking too...


I wish you the best of luck...

 

~The "Check Engine" light comes on ALOT..I've been told not to worry about it.

Walmart sells cheap scanners for $20, ive never used one but I would think it would work fine for you. Go from there to see what needs work.

~The e-break doesn't work.
I don't think anyone mentioned it just need to be ajusted and not need a new cable or rear breaks.

~Sometimes when I turn it sounds like my wheels are rubbing on the car...I was told my tires are too big.
Your tires are to big then, you could just be carefull not to turn the wheel to far, its bad for the steering pump to lock the wheels anyway

~The needle on my gas thing bounces so I'm never sure how I'm doing on gas
How bad does it bounce? Camaro and I think all chevy gas gauages untill recently weren't somthing to be trusted.

Most of these things are minor that you could do yourself. The only thing that might be a PITA is dropping the tank and the timing.

 

Rattling @ high speed -

my car did that too, i had the wheel alignment checked and it was off. the tire shop reset it, and i can burry the spedometer without a shake. very standard operation for any wheel shop.

neil

 

Hey everyone, wanted to say thanks for all the replies... my car sat for a few years too...not sure exactly how long, my step dad bought it years ago just to fix it up and sell it but I needed a car so he put $2,000 into it, rebuilt alot of the frame, painted it, and did alot more.
The tires are new, they are from Wal Mart i think. I checked to see the sizes, I don't know If I looked at the right thing but I found this on the front drivers side tire... P215/75R14 M/S ....is that the size?? If so...does that mean my tires are too big?? I also checked out the VIN number and found out that yes it is a 1982 (some ppl weren't sure)... and the 8th digit was H so it is LG4 V8 5.0 4-bbl .... I don't know anything about cars as you can probably tell but is that something "cool"???? Or what most are?? LOL
Thanks again!

 

I only paid a little over 2k for my car in great shape, why would you put that much into fixing it?
Did it shake before the new tires, perhaps you got a bad tire or they arn't properly balanced. Wallmart might check the balance for you for free. If it started after you got new tires though definatly go back there and demand that they fix it.
Did you request special tires or are those the ones in walmarts computer for your car, if so they are probably ok.
Yes that is the measurement, my jeep had 225/75/r15 tires, those practically are truck tires.
Did the tires rub before walmart replaced them? If they didn't its time to go to walmart tell them they scrwed up the size and demand new tires of the proper size although they won't want to give them to you as they are out the cost of four tires and paying someone to install them.

 

Hey if your car runs then you're doing better than me and I've had the car since august. Broke down on the ride home, shoulda seen that as a sign.

 

damn that sux. didnt u test drive it?

 

one of my camaros died on the way home... Had bad Shifter cable and pumps in the tranny... it only happened when it was warm though, i only had 2 short test drive before i got it... so when testdrivin, go on the freeway if at all possible Man that one had T TOPS!!!! Dad made me return it because he didnt want me to get a new tranny for 250 from thirdgen resource, but my current one I got smashed in, cost $450 to streighten the body alone, grr.. I had a donor car or else I woulda had to pay a LOT more for parts.

Lol, mine does that rattle at high speed too, but one of my weights got ripped off. Is the steering sittin dead center but the wheel is crooked a sign I need alighnent? probally result of accident. Any ideas what an alinment costs?

 

Its about $100 for an alignment here, about 20 less if you go to sears or a big place, but I will pay the extra 20 to have someone who has been doing it all there lives do it rather than a kid at sears.
Every car I have owned has had a crooked wheel, some worse than others and no alingment ajustments fixed it.

 

Hey, I'm not sure if it shook before the new tires...it had been sitting for years then my dad started fixing it up and in the process had new tires put on, I never drove it till it was done. My husband says that when I am driving one side of the car sits a little lower than the other...I think its the passanger side. When I first got the car after it had been all fixed up, it would take off really slow, augh I couldn't stand it but i think it was just because of it sitting so long because it does WAY better now.

 

everyone of the alignments I've done makes the wheel straight. If its not they did something wrong, or you have loose parts, adjusting the steering box lash is a step that most places don't mess with.

 

Sitting low on one side might be a broken strut, that was what was wrong with the stance of my 1st car!

The LG4 is... well... better than having a smaller engine. Lots of possibillities, but an insult to the Camaro stock!

Yes, that is your tire size. The way those #'s work is like this: 215mm wide, 75% of 215 (116mm) from rim to edge of tire (sidewall), 14" rims. So... those things are huge! Def bring it back and ask why those tires are on there!

 

My car started shacking once like that but that might of been because I fish-tailed into a curb ouch That hurt.