I was having issues with my z28 having hard starts refer to: http:////www.camaroz28.com/forums/lt...camaro-844819/ Now it will not start at all. It wouldn't crank at first but i went under the car and tapped the starter a few times now it cranks but noting happens it has a sweet kind of smell coming into the cabin and out of the engine bay. Christmas eve day it started to drive really rough sputtering idling erratically and low at stop lights felt like it was gonna die it also felt really weak under load. The car was running just fine before that. Any ideas i need help asap as this is my DD and i have no money for a mechanic.

 

im not there to look at ur car but it sounds like u could of burnt a wire or plug wire up and ur starter doesnt sound to well either if ur having to tap on it. i say u got it hot to many times tring to start ur car. i didnt see any of ur posts saying u checked anything people were asking u to do. have u? u about always start with spark and fuel first and then go from there.

 

I'm gonna go try and borrow a fuel press gauge and start there. Then I'm gonna check the coil boot and post what I find. If those are good anything else i could check? Would the starter be causing this even though its turning over?

 

if ur smelling something i wouldnt think it would be fuel right away. i would look for the ovious first like wires being burned or touching the headers. i have had starters burn up and even smoke until i got my powermaster. never had them make the motor run like crap tho. either it started or it didnt. dont know if its possiable for one to start ceasing up and causing flywheel not to turn freely. are u sure smell is in engine bay also? and its not a burnt smell? and did u check ur spark plug wires really well, coil, plugs? also could be distributor going out. if the smell is coming from the engine area i wouldnt think its fuel. either a wire has burnt or a elec part has fried out or ditributor took a dump. if fuel maybe a fuel pump relay if ur smelling something. i think maybe ur starter is acting up from trying to start ur car so much at one time and getting it hot

 

Ok so im pretty sure my starter went out but just wanted confirmation. I turn the key and it just clicks. Sound like a fried starter? Also someone told me that my car was running like crap because a clogged cat could this person be right? I couldn't get the fuel press gauge but im sure its getting gas because i unplugged one of the fuel lines by the fuel rail and there is gas getting up to the engine when i turn the key to the on position. Also checked the coil wire boot and it looks pretty clean. P.s sorry if my questions sound dumb im a newbie when it comes to Camaros and troubleshooting them. Thanks advance.

 

The entire other thread dealt with slow starting, and several people suggested that you check the fuel pressure. The fact that there is some fuel in one of the lines does not confirm you have the correct pressure.

A "sweet" smell is coolant. Look at the weep hole on the water pump. It may be dripping on the distributor.

 

i say distibutor. could be a coolant leak on it. i say u about killed ur starter trying to start it so much at one time but ur battery can make it click also being low. ur car should idle about normal if ur cat is being clogged and run bad as rpms go up unless its not letting any air thru(not likely) injuneer is very good and anything he says i would try. he just helped me out with mine