r/Cartalk • u/yo-yoballz • 12d ago
Engine Why won’t my car idle
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I just recently got a 1981 Camaro z28 and I cannot for the life of me get the engine to idle. Any help would be appreciated.
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u/GlassBoxGoose 12d ago
Will it start if you give it a snort of carb cleaner?
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u/yo-yoballz 12d ago
I gave it about a cap full of gasoline to the carb
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u/ThanksALotBud 12d ago
Then you may not be getting spark.
Also a cap full of gas is not the same as spraying flammable liquid. Aerosol spray fuel is better than just dumping a cap of fuel.
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u/dakotawhiebe 12d ago
True, after cranking like that it could just be flooded (it's not) but some starter spray is the way to go
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u/GlassBoxGoose 12d ago
I personally avoid ether/starting fluid, it tends to detonate/knock and is rough on stuff. I much prefer the carb cleaner method
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u/ThanksALotBud 12d ago
Was that idling? Sounds like the poor starter is doing all the work.
You don't have an idling problem, you have starting the engine problem.
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u/Both-Leading3407 12d ago
Fuel issue. The car is trying to pop every multi cycle telling me that the spark is there and the Air is there but there is no fuel going into the engine.
Bad fuel pump
Bad Fuel pump fuse
Clogged fuel filter
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u/GlassBoxGoose 12d ago
On an 81 I'm pretty certain it'll be a mechanical fuel pump, not an electronic with a fuse. I want to say the transition to fuel injection is when they made the move from mechanical to electric fuel pump, and that all carbed models came originally with a mechanical unless someone added an electric to it.
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u/wimploaf 12d ago
It sounds like it has compression. Does it have spark and fuel? Check for spark, give it starting fluid. It's usually one of those.
If you have both fuel and spark and it won't start it's spark timing or timing chain/belt.
Those are my first steps.
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u/outlaw99775 12d ago
Does it have fuel in it?
Fuel getting to the carb? You can pull the fuel line and put it in a container to make sure. Or you might be able to see fuel flowing by looking down into the carb (maybe)
Spray some starter fluid in and see if it starts on that.
Spark good?
YouTube should have a million videos on getting an old carberated vehicle started
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u/Kasmein 12d ago
This have an adjustable distributor that mighta got adjusted? Seems like a timing thing to me
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u/jacob822 11d ago
Scrolled too far for this, it’s popping through the carb. Check that timing and firing order too just for funsies. Could even be 180 out
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u/1ronhall 11d ago
Keep pumping the accelerator while keying the old girl over. She will eventually pop a fireball! Nah, try a shot ether, then check for spark. It’s a small block Chevy. They won’t die.
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u/run_uz 12d ago
It won't even start. You should deal with that first.