Here is a weird one for you guys....

My cars a 97 Z28 LT1 with cold air intake and new plugs, wires, water pump. So my girlfriend picks me up from work yesterday and we go home. Car runs fine and we stop at her house and take a nap. I go outside an hour later and it won't start. I had to floor it to get it to start, and when it ran it ran like crap. It would backfire and pop and had to keep babying the throttle to keep it crap idling. Here is whats weird. I unplugged the MAP sensor and it didn't run. I unplugged the MAF sensor and it didn't run. (Both things my dad said to due).

So I let it sit over night and this morning it fired right up and then ran for a few minutes and then started running like crap again and then it just stopped and wouldn't restart. I also have installed a new fuel filter not to long ago.

Haven't had a chance to scan it for codes yet, but what does it sound like to ya'll?

I did notice something odd. A teeny tiny bit of antifreeze was on the front top of the passenger side valve cover.

 

The anti freeze could be coming from the coolant hose that runs to the throttle body. I'm not sure if it is exactly the same on your model year but a metal line runs along that valve cover and goes to a hose. Could be leaking there. Are you sure your water pump isn't leaking too? If it's getting to the opti you could have the problems you describe. You can also do a search for tb bypass. A lot of us have done this to our cars.

 

What exactly does the TB Bypass do? Yeah there is the little metal line running along the left of the intake.

Water Pump doesn't look like its leaking.

 

Anyone have any other ideas as to what it can be? why would it run this morning for 10 mins and then die? the water pump is new amd doesnt leak.

its not plug wires cause they are new and tied far from the manifolds with clips. i hope to god its not the opti....at least i can get a gm opti at cost plus 5%.

would the icm or coil cause this?