My 91 Camaro v6 is acting up. Just bought the car a couple days ago. Drove it around and it was misfiring. I was told it needed new spark plugs, spark plug wires, and distributor cap. I haven't replaced any of these yet. I drove it yesterday and it was misfiring still. Then it would start slowing down and speed back up. Finally it just cut off while driving. I was able to restart it and it repeated this about 5 times until I got home.I was driving it today and it was still misfiring. Acting the same as yesterday but getting worse. I would press down on the gas peddle and it would barely accelerate. Then I started hearing a popping noise coming from under the gas peddle. I could feel the pop under my foot. Finally the car shut off like it was doing yesterday but today I couldn't get it to start at all. It's turning over but not starting. What could be the problem? Is this something new plugs, wires, and distributor cap will fix or is something else wrong with it?

 

Have you had it scanned for codes? Have you checked the fuel pressure?

 

No, I haven't. I don't know anything about cars at all. What do I need to do to check those and what tools would I need and how much will it cost?

 

Sounds like it's not getting fuel. The original misfires MIGHT be fixed with a tuneup but it sounds like your fuel pump quit on you. Spray some starter fluid or something similar into the throttle body and try to start it. If it starts momentarily and then quits then it's not getting any fuel.

The throttle body is located on the front of the engine up above all the belts. You'll see a tube heading down to the box where the air filter is located. Take that tube off the front of the intake manifold (the big thing on the top of the motor that connects to the tube I mentioned) and you'll see a hole. On the right side (if you're facing the front of the car) of the hole, you'll see the throttle lever. push that back to open up the hole and spray the starter fluid into the hole. This is best done having two people. one to spray and one to start once the sprayer backs up. If you do have someone that can help they can just push the gas pedal instead of you opening up the throttle by hand.

I hope this helps and I hope I didn't get too technical. PM me if you have any trouble and I'll try to walk you through. Third Gens can be a PITA to work on but I've been doing it for a while now.

 

Your engine needs three things to run right... Fuel...under the right pressure and metered/regulated to service your six fuel injectors via the ECM/PCM and engine speed sensors... Air...metered and regulated at a ratio of 15/18 Parts Air to 1 Part Fuel...so the gas in your engine burns efficiently... and lastly... Electricity... metered and regulated with in-dwelling sensors to provide a spark for each spark plug at just the right moment. I am in agreement with SupplySgt. that Fuel is the best place to start searching out the problem.

Please have someone pull the vacuum line attached to the Fuel Pressure Regulator on the upper center area of your motor's Upper Intake Manifold and see if any gasoline leaks out or if there is a heavy smell of fuel. If it is there...then the small, round Fuel Pressure Regulator (rubber impregnated fabric bladder) under the "Top Hat" vacuum chamber of the regulator is leaking fuel and the starvation it causes is symptomatic of what you are decribing with poor running performance. Here is a link to my Photobucket that shows what you will be working on:

http://s557.photobucket.com/albums/s...LASSEMBLY5.jpg

If this turns out to be the problem...you can purchase a repair bladder unit for your engine...here for around $75.00:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...28T%2529%2BOHV

...and you will need a special set of "Security Torx" tools to remove the unusual screws holding down that "Top Hat" and replace the bladder unit underneath. You must disconnect the ground wire from your battery and find the Fuel Rail Schrader Valve first to relieve any residual fuel under pressure into a rag before doing this simple and effective repair.