I was changing the starter on my 88 6 cyl. 2.8L camaro and noticed a diconnected vacuum hose hanging, almost touching the floor. I traced it back to its source, it seems to be coming from the area underneath the vapor canistor. I can't figure out where its connected to. I checked the hoses on the emissions diagram on the underside of the hood and that hose doesnt appear on it. The hose seems to come from a circular component on the underside of the car. Any ideas on what it is or where it hooks up to?

 

That sounds like the vacuum line that runs to the vacuum reserve canister. It's a large round device (about the size of a volleyball) that is usually located under the area around where the vapor canister is. It holds vacuum for the HVAC system. There should be a nipple on it for a vacuum line towards the bottom of it.

That vacuum line typically runs from a vacuum check valve towards the back of the motor near the distributor, across the firewall, up the driver's side fender, then down right behind the headlights where the horn is, and then to the vacuum reserve ball.

It is jokingly referred to as the "orb of power" on the boards.

 

Thanks for the info

 

I've been driving the car around and have noticed that it has begun to stall while accelerating in first or second gear. I can avoid it if I accelerate very slowly, but if I give it a little to much gas, it stalls and turns off momentarily then it seems to get out of it and run fine, at least until the next time I stop. Also the RPM meter goes crazy diring these stalls. Could this have anything to do with the loose hose from the "orb", some other vacuum leak, or perhaps even the starter?

 

I could definitely be related to vacuum leak, but I seriously doubt it's related the starter, since it's not really doing anything once the car is started.

But, first off, how long has it been since the car's had a good tune-up? Did it have this problem before you changed the starter?

 

Years ago, I had a Corsica that did that exact thing: From a stop, I could only BARELY tap the gas and slowly accelerate. If I hit the gas even a little too hard, the car would bog down and die on me. Once I got up to speed, I could hold the gas down and maintain speed as long as I wanted to.

The cause: cracked spark plug boots were causing almost all of the spark to arc off onto the head instead of going through the plug. A new set of plugs was all I needed & then I was running great! Check into a weak spark condition to see if that's what's causing your problem. Don't blame the "orb" too much because mine's been removed for about 2 months with no ill effects at all.

 

Thanks for the help. PhLaXuS I checked the plug wires and found that 2 of them were damaged. I replaced them. Hopefully that will solve that problem. As far as the "orb" topic goes, Benm109, I traced the hose to where it should be connected and found that the vacuum check valve was missing and the hose leading to the A/C controls was capped off. I bought a new one from Motormite under the name "Two Port Check Valve". After replacing it I found that some of the vents now worked, but their was a hissing noise coming from behind the A/C controls in the dash. Could this be another leak, if so am I going to have to open up the dash to fix this?

 

im having similiar problems but its only in one particular part of the throttle if i hit this are the engine just bogs all other areas motor seems good, i think its ignition related didnt get to check the plugs will do after work tomorow(thank *** its nice out get to take the zx6r out)

 

Its sounds like another leak, and I would be willing to bet that's why the previous owner capped off the HVAC vacuum line, too. The doors in the HVAC system are vacuum-controlled. It may not be hard to diagnose or repair, it just depends on where it's leaking from. I would try removing the knee bolsters under the dash on the driver and passenger side, and listen for and try to trace the hissing sound. See if you can't at least find the general area that it's coming from.