Its been awhile since I've posted here but I'm still having problems. It happened on the same day I was playin with the timing to try and get a little more power out of it. Well here's the car: 1988 Camaro, 2.8MPFI, 5-speed. Here's the syptoms of whats going on:
rough idle
when warm, wants to die at idle
when warm, runs rougher
backfires after you have been accelerating
runs rich
fouls all plugs
no power
shudders during acceleration


Here's what I've done:
new O2 sensor, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, ignition module, coil
checked fuel psi (40psi when in the "On" position but not running)
checked the ECM
checked catalytic converter
checked and rechecked the timing (8 btdc)

I have tried to check the fuel psi when its running but I can't get it to start now What else should I do? What more should I check? Any ideas and suggestions would help. I have the top of the plenum off right now but I can bolt it back on but this is really starting to get to me....Thanks guys
Russ

 

Assuming that you have no trouble codes. You may have a bad distributor pick-up coil or an EGR valve that's leaking.
My 88 2.8 was doing the same thing. Running rich , rough idle, eye burning exhaust fumes ect...
Apparently the EGR valve was spewing exhaust into the intake plenum when it shouldn't have and this occured even after I replaced the valve with a new one. All I did was block off the valve where the corrugated stainless steel hose meets the plenum. After that it ran perfect.

 

well I had no trouble codes whatsoever because I had the car running with a scan tool on it at my college in the auto dept. So the only thing I think it could be would be the EGR from what you were saying. I'm guessing if I plug it off and I put a slightly colder thermostat in it, I should be fine. Im gonna find out this weekend Thanks!!:hail:

 

distributor bushing are worn and the sucker is wobbling inside the cap.

Or maybe you have the timing set right but from timing chain wear and Dis wear, your cap index is off. The car can be timed right but the cap index is wrong.

 

well I redid the timing right before this crap happened because I was tryin to get a little more power out of it. After I did the timing (12 btdc) I drove it to pay a speeding ticket 20 miles, turned around and was coming home, got another 3 miles and then it made a shudder feeling. When I checked the disty with I put the ignition module in it, the bushings were good and I replaced the timing chain about 30,000 miles ago if that. So I don't think it could be those....I'm still leaning to the EGR valve is bad/clogged

 

checked the EGR valve and its good. I have no clue what else to do. Maybe I'll recheck the timing again and just start checking everything over