Where to get started, well my buddy just got a 1984 305 camaro. Today actually, but after work it wouldnt start. Battery was dead, so i jumped it. Well when it starts the guage says 8 volts, seems he needs a new alternator. But what I'm really looking for is any common problems with these cars. He has an oil leak, brake line leak from the back driver line, and the oil pressure stays in the red unless you put some gas into it, then it flys up to I think 60 it was? (as far as it goes). Another thing, whats the deal with the choke light coming on? I told him to push the gas a little when he started it cause I wasn't sure if it was carb'd or not. I let it warm up and everything was a go except the problems I listed.

P.S. sorry for dual post, didn't see these threads untill after I posted.

 

The "Choke" light is really the Alternator light, just mis-labelled. It means his alt is not charging.

I'd try a new oil pressure sending unit (right behind the distributor) before getting excited about the oil pressure gauge readings.

It might be a carbed car.... look at it and see if it has a carb; if it does, it is.

 

All this time I thought you had to check the VIN

 

That will only tell you how it came, not what it is now!!! Sometimes looking is the best way.

 

You know I was kidding, right?

Am I right in saying that the Choke light is an indication that the electric choke is not receiving a 12v current from the alternator? Thus being a "second-hand" alternator light?

 

It's sort of the other way around...

There's a little relay in parallel with the light bulb, that is, it operates whenever the bulb is lit. The relay feeds 12V to the choke when it's not operated (i.e. when the bulb is not lit). The purpose of the relay is so that the choke will only be fed power when the engine is running, which of course is the only time that the alt is likely to be generating electricity. So the light is really the "Alt" light, but it also indicates incidentally that the choke isn't getting its 12V, so the engine is probably running REALLY rich.

Seems to me it's kind of stooopid to label something so basic in such a confusing manner. But then I'm easily confused, being an idiot and all. But I suspect that the labelling had to do with emissions regulations, rather than anything connected with common sense.

 

Welcome to the boards!

Looking for common problems with these cars? Seems to me like your buddy found a gem! lol many of us have much more wrong

If it is pre 85 V8, it is a carb motor (if it's stock!)

Well, here's my list of common problems:

Oil leaks
Electrical problems (that you can never trace )
Driver's seat ripping (lol... yet to find one that isn't!)
ROT!!

Oh yah,
Bald tires and no gas