Hey whats up ya'll? my friend jsut recently bouhgt a 95 camaro 5.7L. I really dont have any experience working on that car, being that i own a 94 cutlass supreme and have more experience in the w-body category. So i would like to get some general diagnostic procedures for this car. let me tell u what is happening.
It has problems starting and when it does start it idles rough. then it stalls out sometimes in gear, usually on hills. NOw the feeling im getting is that its fuel problems, so my first step will be to change the filter. but maybe u have suggestions of what are common problems for this engine. I AM NOT GETTING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.but i also dont really have a way to scan for codes. For example, how would i know if the mass airflow is good, would it throw a check engine light? and fuel pressure regulator, the only way to tell is if its wet with gas? and how would i know if its, say, the ignition coil?

Sorry to be a pain in the neck, but as i said i really dont have the experience with this one. so if i could jsut nail down a first step and so on of what to start checking, then hopefully i can get this baby cruising again!!

 

The idle speed is wrong ( Should be around 800 to 900 for an Auto I think )
Fuel Filter is clogged
Bad wires, Or the distributer AKA the Optispark, is on its way out, doubtful but possible i suppose
Bad plugs
or maybe a Vacuum leak somewhere.

Thats about all offhand that I can think of that would make it behave like that. Good luck

 

When you turn the key on make sure the check engine light comes on and then goes off. If you never see it someone probably took a bulb out. Plugs and wires are a very common problem for these cars. Optisparks are somewhat expensive but not too bad. They run like $230 I think. I need a unit for my Range Rover and its $1200 and needs to be dealer installed.

 

I really apreciate the info guys. now i got somewhere to start. i just wanted to add a couple of things: last night when the problem was really bad, it was after the car hasnt been driven for a couple days and it has been REALLY humid where i live. so im wondering if the humidity could contribute to the problem.

Also how would i know if its the optispark?? i mean if its at least a $200 part, i would like to know for sure before i change it. Maybe i can get a little background. i know that the optispark is this cars answer to distributor, but i thought that a distributor either worked or didnt work. i didnt know that it went through a dying or rough runnning stage. is that something unuiqe to the optispark? and once again, how would i know for sure if thats it or not?

 

Some one else can give a more detailed response but it has to do with the opti being digital. For example I had a leaky waterpump and it was dripping oil directly onto the opti. So I put on a brand new waterpump and opti and had the plug & wires changed. Like a new car. I am doing a fuel filter next weekend. If you dont wanna buy an opti first then change your plug wires. See if that helps. Make sure the wires are ran properly and wont burn or get cut.

 

If it is a new car to you you may consider changing the fuel filter before you get to far into swapping parts and spending an a** load of money. Just my 2 pennies

 

well thanx for all the advice. i did a fuel filter and that didnt help anything. now it went form running rough to not starting at all. so i checked and it turns out im not getting any spark. so i guess i would assume its that opti thing everyones talking about. so ill look in to changing that. thanx all!

 

Hardcore:
The idle speed is wrong ( Should be around 800 to 900 for an Auto I think )

I didn't see him mention his rpm's at idle, mine (in gear) runs at 550 roughly. It's the m6's that idle higher. I just went outside and checked untill the car warms up, it's starts out at about 700 in drive.

Since the car is now not starting, check this out before wasting more money throwing parts at it... http://www.mainstreamtopics.com/foru...p?showtopic=78
-b