After I got a new car a few months ago, I haven't driven my Firebird (except for one time, because I had to move it). We have been trying to sell the car, and have had several interested people contact us but there has been no actual sale. I figured that I might be able to persuade my dad to let me keep the car

The car in question is an 88 firebird formula. It has the 305 engine (TBI I think?), automatic transmission, and probably around 110,000 miles. It was just a temporary car for me to learn on, but now that I drive a jeep tj, I am starting to miss the roar of the v8 and the overall uniqueness of the car.

There were a few problems with it when I stopped driving it, and I figured I would post them all in one thread instead of making five threads in different boards.

First off, when I start the car up, white smoke comes out of the exhaust. It's just a giant cloud that comes up and goes away soon after. I've been searching the boards and it seems to be a valve stem seal problem. Could anyone link me to or give me some information telling how to replace them, how much it would cost, and where to get the parts?

Second, the automatic had a nasty habit of stalling when coming to a stop or starting from a stop (which was the main reason my friends were glad I got a new car ). It seemed like I either needed to be on the brakes, or on the gas at all times, and if I was just letting it roll forward, it would stall. I wasn't able to find a solution from searching the boards and was hoping someone else has had this problem and could give me some direction.

Third, the passenger side headlight doesn't move up and down when I press the button, so I have to leave it up. My uncle plugged something into the wire and said there was no power going to the motor. I was thinking this could be the headlight relay. If it is, where would I be able to get one of these and how would I replace it?

Lastly, I remember the gas mileage being abysmal (somewhere around 10mpg). Would a tune-up do this? I've been reading that spark plugs and wires, distributor cap and a few other things should be replaced. Would there be any things I could do to fix this?

Any information about any of these problems would be greaaatly appreciated!

 

Since the car has not been ran in a while, first thing I would do is a full tune-up. Do you have any idea how long it's been since the last tune up?

Anyway, that is what I would recommend doing first. Spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, oxygen sensor, fuel filter, air filter, PCV valve, etc. Oil change, and check all of the hoses and the serpentine belt while your at it. Even if a car sits for a little while, you'd be surprised at what can come loose or what a critter might do.

Anyway, about your questions:

1. That definitely sounds like the classic sign of bad valve seals. They are not that hard to replace, but it is a time-consuming process with the engine in the car. A couple of quick searchs should yield some pretty good step-by-step guides on how to replace them. The "LT1 cam digest" sticky has a good write-up on it. Although it's about replacing a cam, most of the steps will be the same.

2. The problem is probably not with the transmission, but rather the engine. Does it idle smoothly?

3. I cannot help you with that, but there are plenty of other people on here that know about the various problems and fixes with the pop-up headlights. I honestly have no experience with them. I'd try the "Electonics" board first.

4. Yes, it could cause the bad gas mileage. Do a tune up first, and then go from there.

 

Thank you for the reply!

It hasn't been driven since early July 2005, and I had to move it a few hundred yards a few weeks ago.

I don't remember the car ever being tuned up, I should probably do that then

The car idles fairly smoothly, sometimes the tach needle dips a little and goes up a little too high, but it isn't too bad.

 

if it idles up and down you more than likely have a vaccum leak (check all the vaccum hoses any vaccum caps, other vaccum associated peices, gaskets so on). If thats not it then your egr valve is probably no good. The egr valve is located at the passenger side rear of your throttle body (it's a round diaphram looking peice), It has a bolt holding it down on either side, you should take it out and clean it thoroughly, make sure when you push on the diaphram that the valve on it seems ot move in and out fairly smoothly. If not go buy a new 1 (they are 55.00$) i beleive. After you get through with all this stuff checking the iac which is on the passenger side, side of the throttle body and cleaning it would be a good idea also. After that take it to autozone and have them check for engine codes (your check engine soon light comes on from time to time i'm assuming).