Ok, here's the whole story. Yesterday I was driving my 88 Camaro to school and went through a sh**load of puddles and rivers because it was pouring outside. Needless to say, the car stalled out. So I got it to the side and tried starting it without success. I had to get a ride.

8 Hours later I return and try to start it with my friend. It had stopped raining. After about 10 attempts, it finally revs up for about 10 seconds and then dies. Like I had it revving at 5K and then TOTALLY cut out. Tried some more and it was a no go. So we pushed it home with my van.

So I got it home, charge the battery and still try to no avail. At one point it started for 5 seconds, was revving high and then completely cut out like before. So we let it sit the night.

Tried again today and it ran for about a good 15 seconds. I had it idling nice and smooth at about 2K and then, BAM, cuts right out. Hasn't started since. But sounds like it wants to. And each time, I smell gas.

Every time we are trying to start it, it cranks and cranks and then really sounds like it wants to kick over. I've already checked the cap, wires, etc. Everything is dry and sprayed with silicone. I am hearing the fuel pump come on every time I turn the key as well.

NOW, before all this happened, I was experiencing the following problems: 1.) I smelled fuel when I would get out of the car. Strong odor of gas. 2.) My RPM's had been fluctuating. Like the needle would twitch up and down. And I'd be at a light and the car would sound like it would want to stall out, but never did. Ran fine when I was on the gas. 3.) I had a pesky engine light coming on that I never got around to checking.

Can anyone make a diagnosis as to what my problem may be!?!?! It really seems like I got the spark, but the engine is somehow starving for fuel. I have 3/4 of a tank in the car and have already put Drygas in the tank. I don't want to have to walk! THANKS FOR ANY HELP! :hail:

 

Sounds like a timing gear issue...

Line up the timing marks and see where the dist is; then whirl it over for a while; then line the marks up again and see if the dist is in the same place it was. I bet it won't be.

 

Thanks for the reply. :hail:

Right now I ran power to the "G" terminal of the diagnostic terminal to get the fuel pump to run. Disconnected the fuel line up front and it gushes with fuel, so I don't think that is my problem. I will check out the timing gear. Thanks.

 

Since it started while driving thru water, I'd be replacing the dist cap.
Once moisture gets in there, the spark will find different places to go. Once it has ventured off the intended path a few times, it leaves a "carbon track" behind. The carbon track makes it easier for the next spark to follow the same path.

Sometimes the carbon track can be seen by looking very closely inside the cap with a bright light. Look for very thin black lines. If it's a black cap, the tracks will be really hard to see. If it's a different color, they'll be easier to see.

Once a carbon track has started, it fuses itself into the plastic and cannot be removed. The cap has to be replaced.

You may see spark at the plug, but when the plug is in a pressurized enviroment (combustion chamber), it will take much more energy for the plug to fire. The spark will then find an easier way to ground; like thru a carbon track.

 

Thanks for the replies!!! :hail:

I had been troubleshooting this problem all day and I believe I may have found the problem. I pulled one of the plugs and it is black and very smelly. The plugs are only a month old!!!

Prior to buying the car, it had sat for a year. The kid said he started it every week, but you know how that works. I changed the oil and plugs a week after getting it. I always had a smell of gas when I would get out of the car. Am I running too rich? Bad timing?

New plugs, cap and rotor are on the agenda for this weekend! Then an oil change if it runs!

Thanks!!

 

Ok, new plugs, cap and rotor and now I don't get anything. Cranks and cranks but doesn't even sound like it wants to start at all.

I tested for spark, and I am getting spark.

I did the test on the coil in the Haynes manual and I am kind of confused as to what I am exactly supposed to be checking for. All of the tests seemed good except for test #3 where is says it is supposed to be infinate??? The needle only jumps a little bit.

But If I am getting spark, my coil should be ok, right?

Any ideas?

 

why don't you try what rb said? check your timing marks and post 1 on the cap

 

ede & rb---Just checked the timing (what rb said) and it's right on. So it's not that.

 

Alas, it WAS the IGNITION COIL!!! CAR RUNS!!!

Thanks to everyone for their help!!! :hail:

 

i had a prob sort of like this, my car was runnin ok, then it just would not start anymore but sounded like it wanted to, i replaced the coil and wires, and the distibutor electronics, and still nothin, it had hardly any compression, after i got the motor out for my 350 (it had a 267 in it btw) i could turn the motor over with my hands by the balancer, and it takes about 30lbs to turn over a small block chevy, but now my 350 starts up in the cold (its carbed) with just a turn of the key, no cranking