I have a 2000 camaro, 3800 V6, 4sp automatic. I may have two different problems.

Item One:
When in second gear accelleration stalls out at 4000 rpm. If I continue on the gas, the "Service Engine Soon" Light starts flashing. I have to let off the gas to get the transmission to change into 3rd.

Item Two:
There is a loud intermittent racket/rattle. If I have the car in neutral and slowly bring up the engine rpms, I get this loud rattle at 4000rpm. It sounds like the engine is about to fall out the bottom of the car.

I don't know if these are related but I NEED HELP!!!!!!

 

I had a 98 A4 3.8l and it had a rev limiter at 4,000 RPM. I think whats happening in item number two is you are just hitting the rev limit and the RPMs go up and down a little and your exhaust might be backfiring or something, I wouldn't worry about item number two. I don't know why you can only rev to 4k in park and neutral but thats the way it is.

Sorry, I can't help with item one.

 

are you sure about the rev limiter??? on mine when i was racing a gp, i hit about 4500 then let the gas go and then it kicked into second ( i won by the way by about 4 car lengths). i think maybe on the 2000's the kicked it up a bit cause my friends 98 is auto too and only goes to the formentioned 4000. my car is an auto and i only have a cai, lid and a borla exhaust. dotn know why you would get the service engine light. maybe the pcm is a little messed up????

 

the governor he is talking about at 4k only limits it when the car is in drive or neutral. Although if my car is in motion i car put it in neutral and redline it no prob. When the car is in gear it should be able to go to 6k. some say it will cut off at 5,500, but my tack always hits 6 when i floor it and hold it there. I don't know much about your other problem. btw/ I know stock tachs arn't always very percise.

 

I think you meant park or neutral, and yes thats what I meant.

 

Thanks for the input!!!

The engine will continue to rev beyond 4000rpm except in second gear. Why would the rev limiter operate differently in second gear? Could this be a transmission sensor problem?

As for the loud rattle at 4000 rpm in neutral......I think the rpm will go beyond 4000 rpm.....I just let off there because of the terrible racket.

Thanks again

 

I would take the car into the dealer. Make sure they don't put 34 miles on it

 

Not sure what,But you got problems man sorry

 

I had close to the same problem and it was a clogged Cat. Conv.

 

A flashing SES light is misfire detection......check your wires and coils.

 

Cat clogged,coils wires If I had to guess- timing chain ,rod bearing sumthin inside. For your sake greg hope not
T.

 

I have the exact same Firebird.

What you describe is exactly what I went through.

One or more of your cylinders are misfiring.
They are misfiring because of bad plug wires (mine was #3 and #5).
Misfiring causes unburned fuel to go straight to the Cat.
Hot fuel melts the inner part of the Cat.
Cat is now plugged up and as such, as you accellerate, exhaust can go though, hence, flashing engine line (higher rpm=higher exhaust outlet required).

Have the car towed immediately to a shop (dealer or Independent).

Also be prepared to spend $$$. My repair costed $1,200 out the door from a independent shop which included CAT replacement and install, new plug wires, new plugs, and new fuel filter.

 

You guys were right.........the catalytic converter was plugged up. Chevy provides a 8yr or 80,000 mile warranty on emisions equipment, so..........it didn't cost me a thing........It must be all that clean living?????