So im gettin set to start buying mods for my '94 3.4 and all of a sudden my car starts acting weird . My ABS light comes on and my brakes start makin a squeakin noise where ever i go. Smoke comes ous of my exhaust when i start'er up and makes a gassy type smell.Im gettin bad mileage which i believe is prob. due to the prob w/ the smokey pipe.And just yesterday i had my friend, another Camaro owner tell me i needed new shocks cause whenever i make a turn or stop my whole car like rolls around and such.I was wonderin if any1 could maybe tell me whats wrong w/ my car and maybe give me an estimate on bout how much im lookin at here to fix it.Thanx.

 

the smoke out your exhaust may be from oil sitting on top of your pistons when you start it up

 

perhaps from fried piston rings?

 

Problem 1: ABS Light
Suggestion 1: There has been quite a few posts on this, I have been involved in a few of them, but I'm not sure what the exact links are...I would search both LTI tech and V6 tech for ABS Inop, or something similar. There are quite a few problems that relate to this. This may go away when Problem 2 is addressed.
Approximate Cost: $0

Problem 2: Brakes Squeaking
Suggestion 2: Check your pads...I wouldn't be a bit suprised if they were down to the squealers. This probably means you just need to change the front brake pads, (assuming you have rear drums), but you should check the rear as well. If your car has fairly high mileage then they could be gone as well. Also feel the front rotors, and if they have ridges in them, they need to be turned.
Approximate Cost: $40.99 @ AutoZone for Front (for the good ones)
$11.99 @ AutoZone for the Rear (Lifetime Warranty),
and if the rotors need turning, expect about $10 (plus or minus a few $'s)

Problem 3: Smoke with gassy smell
Suggestion 3: If you can smell the gas pretty strong, I wouldn't think it was oil passing the seals and sitting on top of the piston, although that can't be ruled out. I would first run some fuel system treatment through it (preferred brand for me is Lucas Complete Fuel System Treatment, available at Advance Auto Parts). Maybe Problem 4 will help this out as well.
Approximate Cost: $4

Problem 4: Bad Mileage
Suggestion 4: Change your O2 Sensors...3.4L you have two, one on each manifold. Especially if this has never been done to your knowledge, now is a good time.
Approximate Cost: $18.99 a piece @ AutoZone

Problem 5: Shocks
Suggestion 5: I don't really know what to tell you. If you have bad body roll, and the suspension just feels kinda sloppy, makes excessive noise, etc., then he's probably right...you may need new ones.
Approximate Cost: $89.99 Front @ AutoZone, $19.99 Rear @ AutoZone.

I think that covers all the things you mentioned, so maybe that'll get you fixed up. All these things you can do yourself, but if you don't feel comfortable with it, then I don't know how much a mechanic would charge, but it shouldn't take him that long to fix all these things (with the exception of you doing some research on Problem 1). That's just the parts list kinda, and none of that stuff is too bad to fix...e-mail me if you need to know anything else about it.

But wait until Eric reads this thread (MustangEater82), he'll quickly tell you that doing this tune-up type stuff will help your car more than just about any mod out there. Good Luck.

(Man that took a long time)

 

thanx a lot man

 

Mine does that "smoke" on start-up. I have seen other 3.4's doing it too.

Btw........how many miles do you have??? Mine is at 64,600.

 

my 3.4 had that smoke too for a while its at about 70k miles. i put some of that once a year techron cleaner in the tank with half tank of gas, made for stronger potion. did that and the smoke is non existent now. the smoke was white and had a really strong fuel smell to it. that once a year stuff is supposed have another step to it, like a 3000 mile treatment inbetween the years. just research the stuff on the shelves.

 

just hit 98,000 mi.