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Chevy Camaro Car Repair Questions and Answers

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Question: 1998 Chevy Camaro mileage: 105,000.  My question is about the charging system. My alternator has just given out.  I took the alternator off to have it tested and was told the diode trio was bad.  I bought a new alternator, but nothing has changed.  I returned it to have it tested and it was fine.  I have checked all fusible links going to the alternator and starter.  The car is still not charging. I also had the battery checked and it was fine.  I don't know what else to do without spending a lot of money at a repair shop.

Answer: Check the small power wire that hooks to the back of the alternator to see that it is getting 12-volts when you turn the key on.

Question: 1999 Camaro  I've had braking problems with the rear disc brakes for about five years now.  I've replaced the master cylinder, proportioning valve, rear calipers, rear pads, turned the rear rotors, replaced the rear center brake line and performed adjustments with bleeding the system each time.  Colorado uses dynamometers for the emission tests which operate under the rear wheels.  This is very difficult to test without adequate braking system for the rear wheels. Is there something I'm missing in the process, or has there been a change to fix this issue?

Answer:  It sounds as if you have replaced everything that could possibly be causing your problem.  What you may have to do now is to re-engineer your brake system yourself.  Available on the aftermarket is an adjustable proportioning valve.  With that, you should be able to increase the pressure to the rear brakes.

Question: 1997 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 5.7l mileage: 103,000.  After I have driven the car for about thirty minutes, I shut it off and it will not re-start for about an hour.  I have taken it to two different GM dealers, and have spent close to $3,500 replacing the fuel injectors, catalytic converters, the entire ECM, and several other components and it still does this on occasions. Please help!

Answer: If the fuel pump has not been changed, this would be our first guess. Secondly, you may have a faulty PCM (power control module) power relay.

Question: 1999 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 V-8 mileage: 60,000.  I'm getting a low engine coolant light on my dash lighting up. I've followed the directions to put coolant in.  Bled the two valves etc, poured in coolant, ran the engine, etc.  But I'm still getting the low light on in the dash.  The radiator is filled to the brim.  Maybe I'm not bleeding the valves correctly.  I don't see a leak; the car is clean underneath.  Is there something special to do to add coolant in a Z-28?  Thanks

Answer: It sounds like you have properly refilled your cooling system.  A faulty coolant level sensor may cause the problem you have with the warning light being on.

Question: 1996 Chevy Camaro 2.8L mileage: 210,000.  I have a problem with my heater it will only work in defrost mode When I slide the control to any other setting it stays in defrost.

Answer: Check for vacuum hoses that may be cracked or a loose connection. Another source of the leak may be the vacuum switch on the back of the heater/air condition control on the dash.  Somewhere in the vacuum system is a check valve that may have failed.  It is usually part of the vacuum reservoir tank.

Question: 1999 Chevy Camaro mileage: 86,000. When I go over a bump, my rear tires are hitting the wheel wells causing deep cuts in my tires. What part of my rear suspension would cause this? Is anything else I should be looking for that would be a tell tale sign of any problems.

Answer: We are assuming your car has standard tires and rims – inspect rear suspension "track locator." It is a long bar with rubber bushings on both ends that attach to the frame on one end and to the rear end housing on the other end.

Question: 1997 Chevrolet Camaro mileage: 154,000. What could be the reason (s) that my alternator keeps going bad? I have had three put on since I bought the car in 1995. And I don't know if this is related to the above problem, but I cannot leave my car sit for a couple of days without being started and driven, or the battery goes dead. I have bought three batteries in the past four years also. Sometimes when the stereo's off, I can hear static and engine through my speakers. In case it is of importance, my stereo was installed in 1995.

Answer: The alternators you have been using may be of poor quality. If the diodes "bleed" a little A.C. voltage, it will shorten the life of the battery. Hearing static and engine noise on your speakers with the stereo off may indicate a wiring problem with the stereo installation. It also could cause your battery drain when the car is not driven for several days.

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Question: 1996 Camaro mileage: 97,000. I recently bought this car for my daughter and do not have any maintenance history on it. It appears to have been well maintained and mostly driven on highway. My problem is that I get a MAF low current trouble code and the car stumbles/bucks badly as soon as I try to accelerate. If I clear the code, it comes back immediately once running temperature is reached. I have checked for vacuum leaks and for bad electrical connections but have found nothing. The engine starts easily and idles smoothly. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer: The trouble code is telling you the mass air flow sensor (MAF) is malfunctioning and should be replaced.

Question: 1995 Chevy Camaro mileage: 63,000. Hey guys,   I need to know how to change the bulb on my parking lights? How do you get to the bulb, I tried by unscrewing the adjustment screw but it still didn't budge. Do you go from underneath, under the hood or what? I was out there for about thirty minutes and the manual does not show how the change the parking bulb.

Answer: The bulbs are changed from underneath the front of the car. The panel behind the bumper has two small access doors for that purpose.

Question: 1999 Camaro mileage: lots. Leaking fresh oil out backside, rear main? Put new "O" ring on distributor. Is the Rear a one piece or two piece, Parts store didn’t know which, one or two piece. This car has been a battle for me since got it. The parts stores don't hear "Canadian" made when specifying. It took three tries to get the right brake cylinders. I want to be sure of the rear main before I tear it apart and leave a mess for days while waiting for the right part. Do you have info for what the process is for doing it? I never tackled this before.

Answer: Before you start to repair oil leaks, a good idea is to clean the engine in the area of the leak. Drive the car and verify what seal or gasket is leaking. Your engine should have a one-piece rear main seal. To change it the transmission and flywheel must be removed first. Not a good idea to try this without proper equipment and training.

Question: 1999 Chevy Camaro, mileage: 75,000. I just got my car back from a person who intended on buying it but didn't. Now there are many problems. I know some stuff about cars but you know more so please help me. My car runs rough when first started, it also runs rough when hot. It blows out black smoke, and has lost some power since I last had it. In addition, the transmission has to be redlined in order to shift gears anytime.

Answer: There are a number of things that can cause this condition. First, be sure the engine is properly tuned-up. Have the spark plug and plug sires been replaced? Distributor cap and rotor, fuel filter and oxygen sensor? Then scan PCM (computer) for fault codes. This will tell you if any engine control components have failed. Also check for vacuum leaks or bad vacuum hoses. Once the engine is running properly the transmission, "shift points" may be corrected.

Question: 1989 Chevy/ Camaro RS 151,000 miles. My car will not hold antifreeze. I have discovered the leak, through a small hole behind the top pulley. Is the hole supposed to be there? In addition, how do I fix the leak?

Answer: We believe the small hole you described is the vent hole in the water pump. The purpose is to keep coolant out of the pump bearing if the seat fails. You need to replace the water pump.

Question: I have a 1968 Camaro with Flow Master 2 1/2-inch mufflers and it is just too loud. How could I make it quieter?

Answer: The exhaust system in question is designed for performance proposes not noise cancellation. There are a couple of alternatives. 1. You can remove system to replace with stock application, 2. Try replacing the muffler with a different quieter performance muffler, 3. If room permits, add a second set of mufflers.

Question: I have a 1994 Camaro. Last year during the winter I turned on the wipers, they were frozen, and the motor went but the wipers never. Now instead of staying down they stay up. What will make them stay down instead of up? They still work.

Answer: The park switch inside the wiper motor may have failed. That switch is part of the wiper motor assembly. Replacing the motor assembly should fix your problem.

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