Help diagnosing engine trouble...
 

Since my head gasket repair last summer starting my Z in the morning has gotten harder and harder. The battery is strong, the starter turns over full speed but it fails to start. 4-6 cranks later it will start but stall right away. After a couple more cranks it starts and stay on. The colder it is the worse it gets. Thats problem number one.

This week I imagine the same failure is causing the car to want to stall WHILE rolling. It never stalls but its unresponsive to pedal movement, doesn't buck but does drop power, catch itself, return to higher RPM only to drop again. After about 10 mins, it returns to 'normal'.

But even when normal, drivable condition, the sound from the engine bay is wrong. Almost a metal/metal vibration or strain on something that should turn freely. You can feel this in the car too. Almost like running into a strong wind, it isn't running effortlessly something is buggering it up.

No SES and I don't have a scanner :( Car is at GM right now but if it doesn't happen for them they tend to move on. Ideas?

Re: Help diagnosing engine trouble...
 

I was reading this thread:
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327206
and saw this:
sounds like you might be having a similar problem. do you have a way to check your fuel pressure? can you hear the pump run? i would check the schrader valve and see how much pressure there *seems* to be. good luck, later!

jeremy

Re: Help diagnosing engine trouble...
 

Ding! Ding! Ding! Good guess :D Just got off with GM and yep the fuel pressure is awful. Under 30PSI so the tech was surprised it ran at all, let alone ok sometimes. But since its a Z its going to cost $$$ to change out :( I'll be so happy come spring when I can sell it. Nice cars are for the young and old, not so much the in between ;) When I was early 20s I had so much dispossible money the Z couldn't put a dent in it. Now with a family, house, wife's car... things like this sting.

Re: Help diagnosing engine trouble...
 

i should have guessed a dirty fuel filter then... haha, anyway, good luck with that! later!

jeremy