No Start on 97 Camaro

Tiny
TURBOSTEVE
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET CAMARO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
I am working on a 1997 3.8L Camaro for a friend and have a no start condition. When I received the car, it was in running condition but had a massive oil leak at the front of the engine. I powerwashed the engine while it was running, and it slowly died after about five minutes.

The car has spark, and fuel at the rail. I put a pressure gauge on it but it does not read. I could get fuel to the bleed off valve near the gauge, but it didn't seem to be a lot, or under pressure. I checked the gauge using my air compressor and it seems to be fine. I believe I can hear the fuel pump cycle with key on, and the car will run on starting fluid. I'm going to check the relay in the kick panel next, and maybe swap out the fuel filter, but i'm out of ideas at this point.

Thanks,

Steve
Sunday, November 28th, 2010 AT 4:14 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
You need 52 psi minimum for the car to run fuel pressure. If it has spark then check your fue pressure. It may be shorted or not working. Change the fuel filter as well when you fix it.
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Sunday, November 28th, 2010 AT 4:43 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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Also runn an engine scan to see if any codes come on.
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Sunday, November 28th, 2010 AT 4:46 PM
Tiny
TURBOSTEVE
  • MEMBER
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I forgot to mention it had a PO122 code for a TPS sensor. I changed the filter first thing this morning, and right after that, decided to add some gas since the gauge was reading slightly less than a quarter tank, and I know that F-bodies are notorious for bad fuel sending units.

Turns out I needed more gas. I filled it up, cycled the key a fuel times and the pressure came up and the car started. The TPS code disappeared on its own.

The leak was a power steering pressure line with a 1/16-inch slice spewing loads of fluid.

My last mission is to fix the misfire. Changed the plugs and wires, and moved the wires around on the coil packs and the misfire doesn't move, so i'm thinking it's the ignition module.
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Sunday, November 28th, 2010 AT 10:16 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Misfires can be caused by ignition problems low fuel pressure, bad fuel filter plus vacuum leaks as well as compression problems. Check all that before changing parts looking for a fix.
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Sunday, November 28th, 2010 AT 11:42 PM

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