My Camaro is misfiring under load in every gear and only under load. (revs fine). No noises at all.

She’s also giving me LEAN codes for both bank 1 and bank 2.

I cannot think of a problem that explains these two concerns.

1997 V6 5spd 150k

 

A weak fuel pump would certainly explain it.

Or, something that is causing a "false" lean will richen the mixture up to the point where it may foul the plugs and misfire. False leans can be caused by faulty O2 sensors, exhaust leaks before the O2 sensors or general misfires.

 

How would a general misfire cause false lean? I would think it'll do the opposite, with a rich code.

 

No. When a cylinder misfires, the air and unburned fuel pours out into the exhaust. The O2 sensor can only measure oxygen (it can't "see" the unburned fuel), so it interprets that condition as a lean A/F ratio. In response, the PCM starts adding fuel the engine doesn't need, and the misfires get worse, and you run excessively rich. Same with an exhaust leak before the O2 sensors. The exhaust gas moving past the leak inducts air, and the O2 sensor measures that extra air and reads the exhaust as "lean", when it really isn't.

 

I think I see what you are saying but why is it that back in the 1980's and very early 1990's (at least); you'd get a vehicle with a misfire and it'll store a rich code?

Never have I seen a misfire give a lean code.

Also, do you know how to test the coils on a 3800 V6?

 

I'm trying to give you the benefit of a fairly good knowledge of the 4th Gen PCM's and how they work. If you don't believe me, I can't help you. If you would like to read one of my reference documents that most people on the LT1 forum take as a very reliable source of information, take a look at this.

http://members.aol.com/InjuneerZZ/ScanMast.htm

Beyond what I told you, there's not much more I can say. Hopefully someone else can help you. You might want to try the V6 Engine Tech forum for info regarding the coils.

 

How do you test a for a weak fuel pump?