So I just bought a 91 camaro RS with the 305 last week. I previously had owned a 87 camaro with v6.

But anyway this car has a little tendancy to shut off when I put it into any gear except park or neutral. Its an automatic. Anyway I can keep it from turning off if I just put my foot on the gas slightly or if I drive it for a bit it may or may not. Also not sure if it has to do with it the car idles smooth most of the time but sometimes it wavers I guess you would call it? Drops rpm then comes back up and drops and picks up. That usually normal? I know my 87 did this always never had a smooth idle all the time I owned it but the engine on it had problems so yeah...

Well thanks for any help and suggestions in advance.

 

You might want to check the ISC (idle speed controller). I think the instructions to set it are sticky here somewhere. It's also a common symptom of the pickup coil going bad in the distributor, but that's just one of many possibilities.

 

Thanks for the info. I was actually coming on here to post that I had fixed it (or atl east think it's the fix). What I did was make sure the TPS (throttle position sensor) was dialed in right and while doing that noticed the torx screw that is on the throttle cable/lever on top of the intake and decided to just turn it a little to move it since essentially that's what I was doing when having the gas pressed and it worked. Now doesn't shut off or anything when putting into gear. Not sure if this was the right fix or not (or is this the ISC, haven't bothered checking ha), but I can live with it lol.

Thanks again though! I'll search to make sure what the ISC see tomorrow morning, and definitely look into maybe replacing the pickup coil on it.

 

I'm glad you fixed it. I did actually mean to type TPS, but I has just been working on a FORD with a ISC issue and it as stuck in my head I guess.

 

I know you said you already fixed it, but it sounds like you kinda rigged it up to work for now. I have the exact car and had the exact problem. Replaced the pickup coil, actually just the whole distributer and problem was 100% fixed, just don't forget to set the timing again as well. Our cars should be idling around 500 or so in park fyi. One more thing, you might want to just go ahead the change the rotor and cap while your at it...depending on how old they are.

 

Yeah guessed it was a rig ha, but thanks, yeah haven't had time to look into replacing the pickup coil like I said but at least now I know that's what the real fix is thanks. And yeah first thing I did was replace the cap since looked like it was a little old and had two different rotor markings so yeah, but the rotor on it looked pretty much brand new so I left that. And yeah I need to get a tach or new gauges for it since the tach on mine just goes all the way to the right when I turn the car on ha. But don't want to spend money when I know I may just be getting aftermarket gauges but don't have to money yet =P.

Anyway thanks again. I'll let you know on the results when I have a chance to change it out.

 

Cool, sounds like you have a good plan.

As for the tach gauage...I have the same problem as well, lol. From doing research it seems it can be repaired. There are 4 resisters on the back of the tach that you can replace and it will fix the problem. From what I have read it's a common problem with our gauage clusters in general.

 

Ok sorry took so long to reply but with school and work haven't had time past couple weeks. But anyway i finally got around to changing the pick up coil. Probably should have just done the distribto if i knew i was going to have to pull it out and take it all apart. But after puttin it back in it fires up but dies after a min or min and a half. Haven't had time to mess with it besides that so any suggestions as to what i maybe should take a look at first?

And thanks for the info on the gauges will look up and see if there is some guide i can follow to try and fix it.

 

One other thing it could be is your IAC (idle air control valve). I would also change the coolant temp sensor, this is not the sensor for the temp gauage, this sensor is located right next to the water neck..thermo housing. Test the TPS and MAP sensors as well, but don't change them right away.

Let us know....