Here is my problem. I hope someone can help and I definately appreciate it. I bought a 89 Camaro for my son. When I got it I changed out the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, starter, battery, air filters, oil, and coolant. It ran great and all of a sudden it had problems starting. I got it started and when you drive and push on the gas it bogs out and will stall. I put 92 fuel and injector cleaner in. I also changed out the fuel filter and PCV valve. Now its back to not starting. A couple of times there was a wisp of white smoke that came from the fuel injector area as it tried to start. Any ideas??? Thanks!!!

 

Wiil it start if you spray starting fluid in it?

 

I have not tried that yet. Been working too much. I plan on trying starter fluid tonight. Any recommendations as to what type is best??

 

Hmm sounds like a fuel pump

 

Might be something dumb like a fuse...

 

I dont think its the fuel pump. You can hear it working when the key it turned on. Havent checked fuses yet either. I did hook up a code scanner and got a code for replacing the EGR valve. Ordered it today and will change it tonight. Will let ya know how that goes. Thanks!!

 

EGR won't cause a no-start. A run-terrible, yes; but not a no-start. Don't waste your time and money on it until you get the car to run.

There are 3 ingredients required for an engine to run: air fuel in somewhat reasonable proportion; spark, at about the right time; and compression. All you have to do, is figure out which of the magic ingredients is missing, and you'll have it.

Odds are, unless the timing chain/gears broke, you still have compression; that doesn't usually just suddenly go away to the point that the engine just suddenly won't run. That leaves air/fuel, and spark. There's a near 100% chance that one of those 2 things is missing.

The way a no-start works, is that the car was running fine one minute, and then it wouldn't run the next. That means that every part in the car is good (at least good enough to work), except that some one part failed. Remember that: one part failed. Your job is to find it.

I'm reminded of a car that came on a hook into a car dealership where my late little brother was the service writer. The car was driving down the road, and just died. The owner called a tow truck. My brother gave the work order to a "tech", who proceeded to write the car up for spak plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, ignition module, fuel injector service, and O2 sensor. Does that make sense? Of course not.... that "tech" was encouraged - no, required - to seek other career options, on the spot. Don't fall into the same money pit trap as that "tech".

Replace the easiest of the magic ingredients and see if it fixes it. Fuel is clearly the easiest to subsitute for. Spray starting fluid in the intake and see if it fires. Yes/no? If yes, then the car isn't running because it has no fuel. (There is gas in the tank, right?) If no, then ir's probably a spark problem.

"Codes" are useless for a no-start. Don't waste any further effort in that direction; it's just a distraction and a deviation from the direct path to a solution. Stay focuesd on identifying the missing ingredient, and then on identifying the cause of its absence. Resist the temptation to give up on logic and resort to the "maybe it's this, maybe it's that" mental failure; all that will do, is lighten your wallet; and maybe you will get the car to run that way, and maybe you won't. Probably not, until you've replaced half the car, one piece at a time. Logic and reason are far more effective than the "shotgun" approach.

 

Weak fuel pumps make noise too they just dont put out enough pressure,kinda like a fuel filter that slowly plugs up

 

Thanks for the great info so far. Here's where we stand. By the time I got back on I had already replaced the EGR Valve. The car started after a bit of work. But it didnt run long. It idled up and down until it stopped. There was a bit of white smoke that came from the intake area. I started it up a couple of more times and it idled rough and wouldnt rev with pushing on the gas. It just bogged out. Yes the gas tank is full with 92 and I put a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in it. Maybe the fuel pump or injectors. I agree with your troubleshooting plan. Just not sure where to go from here??????
Oh well I'm taking a break for the rest of the day to drink a couple of beers, eat some wings, and watch the race. Hope you guys have a great night.
I really appreciate the feedback I am getting!!!!!!

 

Maybe you got 2 plug wires switched around if this happened right after you swapped them out. I've heard of that on SBC motors, but I dunno if it will still run if that happens on a V6. Its a 5 second check anyway, so it can't hurt to look.

 

I dont think it has to do with the plugs. I changed all that a month or so ago and it ran great. Last night I disconnected the battery for 2 hrs to clear the computer. Then I ran the code scanner again and nothing came up. I started it up and it idled great until I shut it off. The only problem that showed up this time is there was a little bit of white smoke that was coming from the passenger side exhaust manifold area. Couldnt pinpoint the exact spot. That eventually went away.
When I get home from work today I am going to test drive it. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

Oh ya so it some kinda of computer glitch ? Ok maybe upgrade your memory then

 

Hey rebooting the home computer always works right. Who knows. As long as it runs. I'm at the point to where I'll tow it to a Benny Hinn healing service and let him lay hands on it!!

 

Ok I give! This has kicked my a**. I got the engine to start, but not easy. When it idles it runs great. As soon as I give it gas, it sputters and will stall out. If I let it idle long enough, then it will sputter and stall on its own. Guess towing to the garage and let them check the fuel system might be the way to gain back some sanity.

 

before you tow it to a garage, take the AIR check valves (the bell-shaped things next to the valve covers that always get in the way) that are on the exauast manifold off and see if it runs better, it sounds like you have a cloged exauast, did you hit somthing with the cat?, if you did it could have broke the insides of it up and cloged it up. also ck your timing that could be off, and ck the fuel filter because that could be cloged(not shure where it is in a V6), I'd just hate to see you spend all sorts of money on a mechanic to try to T/S it and start swaping good parts out.

 

I bought the car for my 15yr old son. So its possible he could have run over anything. As a matter of fact he ran up someones yard and clipped a stop sign a couple of weeks ago. Hmmmm??
I already changed the fuel filter. So that should be good. I will take the air check valves off and try it again when I get home.
Thanks again for all the help!!! I'll keep ya updated.

 

I looked and looked for the AIR check valves. Couldnt find them. I'm going crazy here.

 

Have you checked the fuel pump yet or should i say memory

 

No I have not yet. I dont have a guage to check the pressure. I am having it towed to a friends garage this week. Will make sure he checks. Thanks for all the help.

 

What happens when you spray starting fluid in it, or pour gasoline, or otherwise substitute for the fuel that might be missing? That will tell you instantly if you have a fuel problem; if putting fuel in it makes it run, then .... the missing ingredient is fuel.

 

UPDATE
Ok heres the deal. I got the car towed last thursday. They called today with the good news/bad news. The good...runs great! The bad....changed out the following:
MAF sensor
Throttle position sensor
Spark plugs (twice)
Ignition coil
ECM

Grand total about $600

I was going crazy trying to get it fixed. So screwed or not screwed???

Oh yeah...thanks for all the input!!!

 

Now the scary thing is, which of those items actually needed replacing....

And which did they just replace cause...

 

Ouch, thats frickin crazy. Sorry to see that happen to you, hope it is running like a champ now.

 

well on the bright side they didnt rip you off TOO badly for all the things that they replaced. The not-so bright side is that they did the "hit and miss" method to get it all working.

 

I kinda figured they did that. But hey...got some of my sanity back.