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1996 Camaro Z28 - intermittent running
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syrath
New User
Sep 28, 2007, 3:56 PM
Post #1 of 6
(2721 views)
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1996 Camaro Z28 - intermittent running
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Hello all. I have a 1996 Camaro Z28. LT1, 5.7liter engine
The car sat, undriven, and rarely even started for nearly 6 months. Now, the tranny is fixed and it's time to take her out and stretch her legs again, but I'm having the most odd problem.
If I start it cold, it runs great, not a symptom in the world.
However, if I run it for a short while, shut it off and try to restart it, it will not run.
It acts like it's not getting fuel.
Can a Fuel Filter display these types of symptoms? The strange thing is that if I let it sit for 8 hours or so without messing with it, it starts just fine.
I'm baffled. :(
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 29, 2007, 1:00 AM
Post #2 of 6
(2717 views)
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Re: 1996 Camaro Z28 - intermittent running
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Six months is not all that long but if stored outdoors in weather can be. A new fuel filter can only help but when just replaced cause air in the fuel to complicate things right now.
What is missing - spark or fuel when this happens? Obviously if you check while its running well you won't find anything so you have to catch it in the act,
T
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syrath
New User
Oct 1, 2007, 2:14 PM
Post #3 of 6
(2710 views)
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Re: 1996 Camaro Z28 - intermittent running
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Thanks for responding Tom. We have ruled spark out since we can get the engine to run if we spray starting fluid into the intake and turn it over. As soon as we stop spraying starting fluid however, the engine bogs down and dies (seemingly due to starvation).
The next day, cold started just fine and I was able to drive it 15 miles or so without a problem. It's really odd. :(
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 1, 2007, 4:39 PM
Post #4 of 6
(2709 views)
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Re: 1996 Camaro Z28 - intermittent running
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You get 15 miles ok?? Fuel filter has to go just because. Dump out old one such that you can look at what comes out the inlet side.
One thing stands out is that the fuel pump may just have had it. Testing will require checking when it has failed. It is an electric motor and they don't like being hot. This is also like an exhaust restriction (cat conv) but it wouldn't generally behave with the starting fluid if plugged so bad it couldn't run so I'm confused.
Another thing is water in the gas. That's an old problem and you don't hear of it much anymore the way the gas tank in vented reduces water accumulation but you are in a 12 or so year old car. If you have never added moisture removing additive that could be it. Water would settle back to bottom but when driving gets mixed up like shaking oil and vinegar salad dressing.
Water is not usually from where you get gas but from condensation. If a car sits outdoors the air on top of the fuel in the tank has some humidity in it and condenses out as dew like you see on your windows sometimes and it's in the gas tank too to everyones surprise. Tank can handle a fair amount and it's expected so get some. Droplets go to bottom and can't evaporate as they are under the fuel. The best way to solve that if not out of control is with isopropyl alcohol dry gas as it mixes water into the gas and makes like "ranch" salad dressing which is supposed to burn it out and pass thru fuel filter which many won't let water thru.
It could be just that. I would also add some solvent for the fuel. Favs are SeaFoam (sparingly), Techron, and others that some manufacturers actually put in their recommended maintenance list.
One more before I bore you to death is to loosen the gas cap when it fails. If that solves it the gas cap could be wrong for the car or not allowing the evaporative emissions to work properly causing a vacuum in the tank and it can't pump fuel. Carzy but it happens,
T
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syrath
New User
Oct 1, 2007, 4:49 PM
Post #5 of 6
(2706 views)
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Re: 1996 Camaro Z28 - intermittent running
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Yeah Tom, first thing we did was add HEET to wick off some moisture.
I've checked the gas cap too as "vapor lock" was a common F-body issue in earlier models.
I'm really hoping it's not the fuel pump. :( With an electronic fuel pump, I had just thought it'd be all or nothing... works, or dead. The intermittency is really baffling. I replaced the fuel pump about 50,000 miles ago. Not sure what kind of lifespan to expect on that bad boy.
On a 3/4 tank of gas, could it just need another bottle of HEET? ;)
Thanks again!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 1, 2007, 5:09 PM
Post #6 of 6
(2705 views)
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Re: 1996 Camaro Z28 - intermittent running
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Who knows on fuel pump life expectany?? I haven't had a bad one in a long time but now there will be a bunch all at once. They usually do just up and quit and not some slow death but it could. I've even heard of folks banging the snots out of the tank to kick it on and it worked. Not on my recommended list though.
Heet may be just fuel anti-freeze and not moisture remover. Make sure is list that isopropyl and not just methanol as they work differently. If that doesn't work try grain alcohol in a drink and screw the car!!
It may not be water at all - that was just a possibility. You seemed to have ruled out a bit with this. Fuel pressure reading is on the list for sure now,
T
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