1985 Chevy Camaro Engine running terrible/loss of brake pow

MECHIE757

MEMBER
1985 CHEVROLET CAMARO
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
77,500 MILES

This problem just started yesterday and has gotten progressively worse to the point where my car is barely drivable.

Symptom 1:
The engine runs fairly smooth at idle but as soon as I accelerate beyond 2000 rpm the engine runs terrible. It is very unsteady. It either chugs and sputters or it races. The car will either lurch forward or it will barely have enough power to keep going. Basically the engine runs and sounds like your stereotypical old piece of junk car.

Symptom 2:
My brakes seem to lack power. I have to press down fairly hard to get the same stopping power that I had before this problem occurred. Also, whenever I press down on the brake pedal I hear a hissing sound that continues for as long as my foot remains on the pedal.

Again, both of these problems occurred simultaneously yesterday. I suspect that it might be a vacuum leak at the power brake booster but I'm not sure. Any ideas? Thanks!

1 Reply

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

Disconnect the vacuum line goint tp the booster. Check the line for any cracks. If found replace the line. If not plug the booster vacuum line and see if the car runs better. Checking two problems here. One is to see if the vacuum line is effecting the engine performance and the other to see if it is causing the brake problem. If the engine runs better then you will know you have been loosing vacuum through the brake booster. With it disconnected and you preass on the brake and there is no hiss then you will know there is a leak, check out our section on how it works to the left and look up brakes. It will show you what the booster works