Hi all,

After having problems with my car not starting, the problem apparently fixed itself and began to run wonderfully. Now this should have been the first tip that something was wrong, but I just crossed my fingers and hoped all was well. And now it's not. I was driving along the other day just holding a fairly constant speed. Then all of a sudden the car starts jerking, like it was starving for fuel. I had a full tank, so I took my foot off the gas and it smoothed right out. I pressed down a little and it started reving back up, then when I tried to accelerate it started jerking again. So, I floored it. It coughed a little then wound on up. I made it to work ok, worked all day jumped in it and drove home with no problems until I got about a block from the house. Then it started again. I pulled into my driveway and put it in park and let it idle. I started to get hot so I reached over and turned the a/c to high and the car died. I turned it off cranked the car back up, turned it to high again and it died again. So I left it alone. The next morning I get in and it turns over but doesn't want to fire up. I floor the gas and it finally catches. I let it rev up for a while take my foot off the gas and it dies. Fires back up and runs great all the way to work. Get in it after work and couldn't even get it to turn over. Back to my old no start problem, no click no nothing, lights come on, radio plays, power windows work, but no a/c fan and no starter. I put it in neutral and nothing, it rolled back a little and it suddenly decided to work. It fired up and I let it idle. Tried revving it and it starting popping and coughing and didn't want to rev up, then it died and I have had nothing since.

I'm sorry this is so long, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Vital Stats:
1991 Camaro RS
P.O.S. 305 TBI
Slight cam, installed prior to my purchase so I don't know exactly what it is.
New exhaust
New Egr

Thanks and PLEASE HELP!!

 

Here's a couple things to look for:

Check your Fuel pressure at idle
Remove your ignition module and get it tested, you may have some heat soak problems there (be sure to regrease it when you put it back on). When these modules go bad, they stop working properly when they are hot, and will work when cold, so don't be entirely sure of it if it tests OK.

When your car acts up (no start) does your security light come on? That's a VATS issue there, and not uncommon.


edit: also be sure to check your battery cables for tightness as well, if they are a little loose they can cause lots of problems.

 

Thanks for your comments.

Battery cables are tight. Security light does not come on. I mean at all. No flashing light, no steady light no light at all. So this could be the no start problem. That was the no start problem I was referring to originally that I never had fixed.

My uncle thinks it's the alternator and battery. He thinks that maybe it's not putting out enough juice to run the fuel pump and a/c fan etc. I don't know if that's possible or not.

 

Plugged fuel filter?

It may have been able to start again, like it did for you, if maybe something got knocked loose.

I'd change that. Cheap insurance anyway, even if it isn't the problem.

 

Apparently the alternator was the root of all evil. Well maybe not all the evil but at least the dead car problem. I had it tested at a/z and the needle wouldn't move at all. Once I installed a new one and jumped the car it started right up, but would only run if I kept presure on the gas. So, I upped the Idle speed a little and she purrs for now. At least untill the next thing goes out.