I have a 1989 Camaro RS 2.8L. I am having some weird symptoms that I cannot figure out. When I start the car, it will sometimes run fine. I can drive it around for a while and will not have any problems. Other times, it will rev really hard, then almost die, and do this for about thirty seconds to a minute and then die.

The weird thing is that if it dies on me a few times but i keep trying, it will eventually start up and run fine. Conversely, I can start it fine a couple times and then it will have the same problems as I said above. It really seems to be completely random.

I had a engine code in for MAF sensor temp low. I have replaced this. I have checked the fuel pressure at the fuel rails and it is good. I replaced all the sparkplugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor.

I can't come up with any more ideas. Any help is greatly appreciated.

-Dub

 

If it still has the OEM Multec injectors replace them. See South Bay for Bosch replacements.

RBob.

 

I have thought about the fuel injectors but it didn't seem to me like something like that would be so intermittent. It seems like that would be a more constant issue. There might be more to them than what I know.

 

Have you tried unplugging the EGR valve? My dad's 3.1 V6 had this problem and it was the EGR valve opening randomly at idle. When blocked off, the problem disappeared.

 

Sorry it took so long to respond. I have not tried the EGR valve but I will give that a shot. Thanks for responding.

 

quick connect used for a tach? tach signal wires nearly cut through.

lose column?

lose dizzy, moving a hair on its own back n fourth?



[ had all 3 before myself]

 

Well nothing I did with the EGR valve (disconnect vacuum lines, disconnect the whole valve, unplugging it) would change the problem at all. I tried starting it 5 times, three times it did not work, two times it did. Still seems random.

Gumby, could you elaborate more on your past problems. This is my first car I am working on and do not have much experience and I just am not sure what you are talking about.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that the car will only run if the check engine light is in. That is the first way I can tell if it is going to die or not. After I start it, if the light doesn't come in about 3 secs it will always die within the minute.

 

This condition when it runs is most likely because when the ECU knows that something is wrong, it lights up the MIL/SES and "bypasses" the faulty sensor or actuator and runs on "default values". If the MIL/SES is off however, it runs off the (faulty) sensor values or activates an actuator that is faulty and then the engine goes crazy/stalls.

Since the problem is intermittent, it will probably be hard to troubleshoot but the fact that the SES/MIL illuminates and goes off in relation to when the fault appears helps the troubleshooting, the fault definitely has something to do with the code the ECU is throwing when the light is on.

Read codes and post the trouble code you are getting. If you get several codes write all of them down, disconnect negative terminal so the codes are erased, run the car until the SES comes on, turn off immediatly, read codes again and if there is only one code present then, tell us which one it was that came back first. That will really help troubleshooting.

 

Alright I will give that a try. I am have been trying to get my hands on an OBD1 without buying one but I might just have to invest in one. I couldn't get the paper clip method to work either.

 

Okay that's weird about the paperclip read not working.. but i think a cable will be a good investment. I myself have just ordered a ALDL to USB cable, I think it will come in handy and it wasn't that expensive. It will hopefully work on my dad's Oldsmobile too since it also has the ALDL connector.