I went to go buy a 93 z28 and when the guy started the car there was a loud pop. The guy said it’s the starter and that it has done every time he starts it since he owned it. Before buying the car I wanted to check to see if anyone had an idea of what that is.

Can you describe the sound more? Are we talking backfire? Or does it sound like parts banging together?

I thought it sounded like a backfire. It only happened when we started the car and didn’t happen again

Was the engine cold or hot when the owner started it? The starter wouldn’t cause a backfire (popping in the intake manifold) or popping in the exhaust. It is more likely a problem with unburned fuel in the system, a valve hanging open, or an ignition timing error.

Is the engine basically stock, or has it been modified? If modified, what was done to it?

he said it has a 93 gas tune and he said the gears were changed on the car. It could have been a different noise than a backfire and the popping noise was from the engine bay. The guys had driven the car about an hour before we got there so it probably was cold. I think the car needs a new opti based on how it drove. Idk if that could cause a popping noise on start up though. It also needs a new tranny mount but I don’t think that would cause a pop on start up.

Could be the rotor in the Opti is cracked or coming loose, or carbon tracking in the Opti = timing error.