I Need Help
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Southern CA
I Need Help
I have a 1987 Camaro RS (6 Cyl)
For quite a while now my camaro has hesitated a bit when I first hit the gas.. It is almost like it thinks about taking off for a moment before it actually does. No matter how hard I hit the gas when this happens it takes that second or two to sputter before it will start actually moving.
I have not paid much attention to this problem because I figured it is an 87 with 140k miles on it and that is probably a result of normal wear.
Today it decided I needed to give it attention. I had been driving around all day, stopped at the store and when I came out, it would not start. When I first tried to kick it over it just sputtered and tried to start for what must have been at least 30 seconds to a minute.
After that happened it would not even sputter. You could tell it wants to turn over, but it would not.
I checked all the fluids, they are fine. The air, oil, and fuel filter are all less then a year old. (the oil is still brown, and the air filter is still VERY clean) I really do not know what to do. I replaced the distributor, wires, rotor, and plugs a few months ago. What am I missing? I have put in the gas treatment that is supposed to clean your injectors (the $20 dollar kind) and I have oil treatment ready to go in to.
After sitting in that parking lot for 30 minutes I tried to crank it one last time and it started right up like nothing ever happened. I am pretty confused, if anyone could respond or email me or anything I would REALLY appreciate it.
Thank you for your time.
~Michael
For quite a while now my camaro has hesitated a bit when I first hit the gas.. It is almost like it thinks about taking off for a moment before it actually does. No matter how hard I hit the gas when this happens it takes that second or two to sputter before it will start actually moving.
I have not paid much attention to this problem because I figured it is an 87 with 140k miles on it and that is probably a result of normal wear.
Today it decided I needed to give it attention. I had been driving around all day, stopped at the store and when I came out, it would not start. When I first tried to kick it over it just sputtered and tried to start for what must have been at least 30 seconds to a minute.
After that happened it would not even sputter. You could tell it wants to turn over, but it would not.
I checked all the fluids, they are fine. The air, oil, and fuel filter are all less then a year old. (the oil is still brown, and the air filter is still VERY clean) I really do not know what to do. I replaced the distributor, wires, rotor, and plugs a few months ago. What am I missing? I have put in the gas treatment that is supposed to clean your injectors (the $20 dollar kind) and I have oil treatment ready to go in to.
After sitting in that parking lot for 30 minutes I tried to crank it one last time and it started right up like nothing ever happened. I am pretty confused, if anyone could respond or email me or anything I would REALLY appreciate it.
Thank you for your time.
~Michael
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
im not an expert here by anymeans but i can saay that if ur car doesnt start when its hot its ether the distributor / ur fuel pump...
or some electrical wire inside the engine compartment
when it stops like this
try to get a sparkplug and connect it to one plug wire and ground the plkug and hold it by the sprk plug wire (dont touch the plug )
ask someone to crank ur car and if it has spark comming frm it most likely its ur fuel pump / filter....if it has no spark then its most likely ur distributor
or some electrical wire inside the engine compartment
when it stops like this
try to get a sparkplug and connect it to one plug wire and ground the plkug and hold it by the sprk plug wire (dont touch the plug )
ask someone to crank ur car and if it has spark comming frm it most likely its ur fuel pump / filter....if it has no spark then its most likely ur distributor
Last edited by 89camaroRSV6; Apr 15, 2002 at 12:46 AM.
Supreme Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 13,414
Likes: 6
From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Buy/rent/borrow a fuel pressure gauge ($40 at Pep Boys), and put it on. That way you can eliminate the whole fuel system in one shot! 
Make sure you buy the $40 high-psi gauge meant for "port fuel injection", and not the $15 low-pressure carb'd fuel pressure gauge.
Make sure you buy the $40 high-psi gauge meant for "port fuel injection", and not the $15 low-pressure carb'd fuel pressure gauge. Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Southern CA
Thanks for the welcome.
It has been a few days and I have not had a problem with my Camaro since. It all seems a bit weird to me.
Here are some pics of my Camaro if anyone is interested.
http://www.spinergy.net/~ev/gallery/...h=mac%2Fcamaro
I will get the fuel pump and such checked out soon. Thanks again.
It has been a few days and I have not had a problem with my Camaro since. It all seems a bit weird to me.
Here are some pics of my Camaro if anyone is interested.
http://www.spinergy.net/~ev/gallery/...h=mac%2Fcamaro
I will get the fuel pump and such checked out soon. Thanks again.