Hi. I just got my '86 Camaro (LG4) recently and am pretty new to the Third Gen's. It has low miles (38k miles) and I haven't had any problems with it until I installed the open air element. On one of the web-sites it said to relocate the IAT sensor, but I don't think my car has that. I didn't see it anyways.

When I go to start my car sometimes it won't start up until I try it 5 or more times if it's been sitting for usually over 5 hours. Also, when I begin to drive the car it idles real low and the choke light comes on and sometimes the car stalls. As far as I know everything is original on this car with the exception of the open air element. Any suggestions? Does it need new plugs/wires perhaps? Does the open air element let in too much air at start up? It's an automatic by the way.

Brian

 

you didnt plug any of your breather holes in the valve covers did you. When i installed my open element i was stupid enough to stuff something in the passenger side valve cover breather hole and my car acted the same way.

 

Breather hole? I don't believe I did that. The only thing I did was put a screw into one of the tubes that was originally connected to the stock air intake system. I heard this prevents a vaccum leak.

Brian

 

Yes I kinda had the same problem too u have to plug the one vacuum hose thats about 1/2in wide and the breather that hooked up to your old aircleaner. I threw a K&N breather in mine and works great.

SSBO

 

What size breather did you get, whats stock size on center bolt valve covers? I got one from summit but its 2 big

 

Do my problems sound like it's from the addition of the open air element? I'm wondering if I should go back to stock.

Brian

 

Worth a shot, try going back to stock and see if it goes away.

If so, re-read the instructions and try again.
There may be something we missed along the way.

The breather is that tube comming up from the passenger side
valve cover. It probably had a long thin filter on it sitting inside
the stock air cleaner. Make sure it's not clogged.

 

Oh, ok. I did just reuse the stock breather for that. I don't think there was a problem with that at all.

Brian

 

Most people either leave the stock breather standing there against the open element or remove the whole thing and replace it with a small filter which fits into the valve cover.

I am unsure as to what the drawbacks/benifits of having it in the
air cleaner are or if it even matters.

 

Do you think the problems I'm having are due to the new open air element?

Brian

 

it cant be the open element, there are countless number of people that have installed them and have not had any problems. Check your IAC sensor (located behind the throttle position sensor) and make sure it is hooked up, this would also cause your car to have trouble starting.

 

I don't know if I have an IAC sensor. I remember the on-line install guide said to relocate a sensor that my car didn't seem to have. Could my LG4 be different than the later models due to it being an '86?

Brian

 

ok, i forgot you have a carb....ummmmm, relocating the IAT is not that big of a deal, definately would not make your car hard to start. I would say go over everything carefully and make sure you didnt do something you werent suppose to do, check vacuum leaks, sensors hookup, and anything else that might have been messed with when installed the open element.