I just bought an '86 Camaro SC, 2.8MPFI, 5spd, and I've got a bit of a problem. when first starting the car it will stall, after a few times of this, or holding the idle up with the gas pedal it will be fine, most of the time. Sometimes it will stall then act lke a carbed car that is flooded. once started and on the road the engine, "chugs" (it's the best desciption I have, it lunges like trying to accelerate in too high of a gear) while accelerating through first gear, once the MPH comes up it runs fine. Once driven for five or ten miles all is fine. In the past 12 months the car has had a new MAF sensor, and a complete tune up, but it sat unstarted for about six weeks before I bought it. any ideas anyone?

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

 

Nice quote. I'm having similar but more extreme problems. Are you getting any backfiring? Sounds like either ignition or fuel (obviously). Figure out which one you are getting, then reaplce parts in the one you're not. Good luck!

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
-Supercharged Hybrid LB8/L32 Project-
"Got a green light, got a red light, no cop, no stop, man I don't care, every one of you could be the same, every one of you could play this game, got a green light, got a green light but you're going nowhere..."
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

 

I get some backfiring while it's running rough, none at all once it warms up. I'm thinking maybe it's a timing problem. Since this is the first computer controlled six I've had to work on I'm kinda lost on this on. I was hoping someone else had already gone through this, so I wouldn't have to stumble along blind.

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

 

Sounds like ya flooding it, as the cold idle sensor system is not cooperating correctly.
What is NOT hooked up?
Get it back to stockor stock appearing and go forward again.
Timing ain't it.
You said it only happens when cold, until warm.
Why would timing change under those conditions?
It wouldn't.
Worn timing chain, yes, maybe, but, it'll still run ok!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

OK, throw me a bone here, fill me in on the cold idle sensor system. This is my first third gen Camaro, actually my first any gen Camaro, and I'm a little stupid about these things but I learn fast. (if I was able to learn to maintain my '85 VW Jetta on my own I can learn how to take care of my new baby as well ) I agree about the timing, it was just a lame shot in the dark As far as I can tell the car is completely stock under the hood, I'm just not sure what I should be looking for. I'm going to pick up a Hayes manual in the morning and start learning the way I did with the Jetta. (thank God for mechanical aptitude )

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

[This message has been edited by BadBowTie (edited April 09, 2001).]

 

Are you talking about the Air Charge Temp. Sensor located on the drivers side of the air cleaner housing?

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6, 5spd
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

 

In this particular situation, no.
I am not 100% sure on the indiuvidual changes per year.
I am referring to the cold start part of the fuel injection system and all of those sensors.
ALL FI units have them.
So did Jettas.
This Camaro/Firebird is a basic V-6 set up, FI system.
I've been playing with these type of FI systems since 1978 on a 1975 Buick Opel (GM of Germany) and the Bosch L-Jetronic system. The Jetta is a variation of that original system.
It' the same one used on Porsches of the 1970's, too.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

OK, now in addition to the cold start problem I've got a hot start problem as well. It starts hard, then acts like it's running rich (will not idle, stumbles when the accelerator is pressed, and backfires) until I can get the RPMs to come up and blow out the unburned fuel. Even though I know the car just had a complete tune-up six months ago, I'm going to inspect the cap/wires/plugs. The car did sit for the past month and a half with out even so much as being started, so I'll start by checking for moisture inside the cap then work my way out to the plugs. (I know I should have started with the basics right from the start) I may replace the wires and plugs any way (well at least the plugs, I've become quite partial to Bosch Platinums) If anyone has any other suggestions let me know, I'm open to suggestions.

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6, 5spd
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

[This message has been edited by BadBowTie (edited April 10, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by BadBowTie (edited April 10, 2001).]

 

I took the distibutor cap off and noticed white deposits on the contacts inside the cap, so I cleaned these with sand paper, wiped out the inside of the cap, then gave it a light coat of WD-40, and reinstalled it. When I pulled the plug wires off the plugs to check them I found that whoever did the tune-up had put a whitish-clear grease (no, it wasn't lithium or dielectric grease) in each spark plug boot. So I cleaned those out with contact cleaner, and gave them a shot of WD-40 at each end as well. I ran out of time before I could pull the plugs and inspect them, I'm sure at the very least they will need to be cleaned after the rough running. So far the hot and cold start problems have not resurfaced. Once this afternoon, after the car had sat for about a half an hour, the hot start problem occured breifly. I'm hoping cleaning or replacing the plugs will take care of this problem all together.

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6, 5spd
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

 

It COULD need timing adjustment.
Maybe it's to high advanced.
Loosen and bring back a slight bit
a SLIGHT BIT!!
I'd check the timing chain, too!
get a crank socket, move the balancer, notice how soon the rotor under the cap moves! If it takes abit, you need a chain soon or NOW, too! Don't be surprised, chains wear out at about 65-90K miles. I know my original was HISTORY at 103,000

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

I'll make the timing adjustment in the morning, and do the timing chain check real soon. The car has just over 89,500 on the clock

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6, 5spd
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

 

How clean is everything at the starter?
Does it look proper?

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Everything under the hood (wiring connections, wiring, vacum lines, sensors, etc.) looks to be in thier proper place and functional. The car has been very well maintianed

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6, 5spd
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

[This message has been edited by BadBowTie (edited April 11, 2001).]

 

How complete was the tuneup? Cap/plugs/wires is usually what garages consider a tuneup. If this car just went through a tuneup, then why did the distributor cap have carbon tracking on the inside of the terminals so damn fast?? It was tuned up, sat 6 weeks, and then you bought it? No way. Oh, and timing is part of a major tuneup. I think Karl's right, the timing's off.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

The tune-up was done about six to eight months ago, then it sat for a month and a half right before I bought it a week ago. I didn't get a chance to adjust the timing yet today. When I came out of work last night, and started the car I had to hold the idle with the accelerator pedal but only for about 30 seconds to a minute, same thing this morning, but there was no hesitation or "chugging" under acceleration, and the hot start problem has not reoccured.

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'86 Camaro SC 2.8 V6, 5spd
Bone Stock, I like to think of it as a blank canvas

3

[This message has been edited by BadBowTie (edited April 12, 2001).]

 

Start checking ALL Vacuum hose connections.
And condition of all vacuum hoses.
It may be one that is slightly bad and causing intermintent problems.
If it accelerates ok,
it may still be timing.
Just the condition/life (or what's left) of the chain.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA