Hey how's it goin' guys? I'm new to this forum thing and preeetty new to auto-mechanics in general. I know a bit, but no pro. I'd sure appreciate it if you guys could welcome me in and show me around.

Okay, I just bought an 89' Camaro RS with a stock 305 and 5 speed. It's real nice and drives good, but there is a couple things wrong about it. The first is that it is cutting off on me. Usually it either happens after I turn on the A/C. runs good, cranks good, blows cold, but after I turn it on the rpm's fall low, idles rough, and sometimes cuts off. Even if i turn the a/c off, it'll still cut out on me, sometimes even while driving, but mostly after it's warm and I come to a stop. I don't think it's electrical because the dash lights and headlights stay on, but the power steering goes out also. I was thinking fuel pump maybe? Though i'm just not experienced enough to know.

Second, I'm having a problem with the cooling system. After I shut the car off, there is a strange gurgling and bubbling sound coming from the radiator to overflow box hose and the overflow box itself. I don't think it's overheating, because the thermostat on the dash never gets hot or gives any sign of so. I have no idea what it could be.

But I'm a noob guys. If you could help me out that'd be great. I had a civic for my first car. Screw that. I'm in love with the muscle already.

 

Welcome to the forum and American muscle!

TBI or TPI? That gurgling isn't good. I suggest replacing the temp sensor for your gauges. It's located on the driver side head between cyl 1 and 3. Do your fans kick on? Get a fuel pressure gauge at autozone (you can borrow it) and check the pressure. TBI should be 12-15psi and TPI should be around 43.5 psi. Whats it idling at? Any service engine lights?

 

Hey thanks man! Appreciate it.

But what's the difference between the two? I think it's Throttle Body Injected. But I can do that. And yes the fans kick on. I can hear em runnin. and it's idles around 1500 rpms maybe a little less. but when i throw on the a/c it drops down to like 1,000 and then 500 before it creeps back up and it kinda goes up and down. and nah no service lights. when it cuts off the check engine light does come on though. but when i start it back up it goes right off.

 

TPI: http://image.vetteweb.com/f/8696684/...i_manifold.jpg

TBI: http://www.persh.org/images/65Pickup/TBI-all.JPG

Any belt squealing? Does it happen immediately after the ac's turned on or does it take awhile?

 

ohh okay okay. It's TBI. for sure.
and it doesn't happen right away when i cut it on. It's happens later after being driven a little bit longer.

 

and no there's no belt squealing at all.

 

For some reason I don't think your fans are working right, or you have air in your system. Pressure will build up in the AC unit if the condenser isn't kept cool by the fan. As pressure builds up it will eventally put strain on the AC Compressor, requiring more force to turn until it will eventually backfire out of the compressor. I'd top the coolant system off, burp it, double check the fans (make sure they're pushing a pretty good amount of air, my mom had a fan that worked, but was WEAK)

 

okay yeah. another friend of mine said it could be a vacuum leak. so i gotta check all the hoses. But i'll do that then today. how do i "burp?" lol