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1981 Camaro - High Idle Problem???

Hello,

New to this group, and because the "Camaro" group only has like 7 posts in it, I guess I will post here in this one, and hope that there are some mechanics here who can offer their insight and expertise!?

Hoping that someone here can help me out with my question and offer a solution??

We have a 1981 Camaro 4.4L, 267 V-8 engine ( the small "gas saving 8 cylinder of the early 80's" ), that we have had garaged for a few years now, that we are trying to restore.

Anyway, the car was very hard to start when the cold weather arrived in November and December, and it always took like between 6-15 cranks to start it during the winter months ( we are located in the northeast U.S. ).

We took the car to a mechanic who supposedly only fixes GM cars and trucks, and told him how the camaro had NO problems starting up in the warmer summer weather, but was very hard to start in the colder winter weather.

So, we have no idea what he did, but now whenever you start the car, and the engine has not run for about 20 minutes or more, you start it up, and the engine idles real "HIGH" and LOUD for about 2-3 minutes and then you have to keep stepping on the gas and rev the engine every couple seconds, so that it idles at a normal level, after that 2-3 minute period.

I can't stand this, and want this fixed!!

You go to start up the car, whether you are at the gas station, grocery store, shopping mall, in your driveway, etc, etc, and you have to sit there in the car for like 3 minutes, with the engine idling super high, fast, and loud, with people looking and staring at you, revving the engine every couple of seconds, to get the thing to idle normally!!??

We then took the car to two other mechanics, and they both looked at it, and said they have "NO IDEA" what he did, or how to fix it!!!!????

Does anyone have any ideas, theories or suggestions, of what this guy did, and how to fix it?????

Any info. will GREATLY be appreciated!!

Thanks!

Reply to
MICHELLE H.
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Why not go back to the first mechanic and ask him what he did?

Reply to
Mike Marlow

Someone suggested that he set the "fast idle speed" way to high, and that we bring the car back to him so that he can fix it. The problem is, the guy already screwed the car up, so we just don't trust him. He may be a "GM" expert, but who knows if he knows anything about Chevys!?

The problem is we just moved to the area a few years ago, and so we don't have a TRUSTED mechanic. We only took it to him because his ad in the phone book says "Specializes in GM vehicles".

Reply to
MICHELLE H.

Well, you took it to 2 other mechanics and they didn't know what he did. I'd be careful of these 2 mechanics. Take it back to the first mechanic, tell him it's idling too fast. He should be able to fix it quickly.

I don't know what you are looking from the internet? We can't fix it for you. We can only make suggestions and without being there, looking at it, hearing it, etc, we're only guessing. This is something you have to see to fix. There are way too many options for this issue. Sorry, but this is the truth.

Reply to
Jim Smith

Sounds like he adjusted the automatic choke and/or fast idle incorrectly. With a car that old, you're going to have to learn how those work and how to adjust them yourself if you ever want them to work right. It's really not hard, and there's lots of info about such things on the web. But you'll want to get a Chilton's or Haynes manual for the car anyway because no doubt you're going to need it.

Reply to
gringomasloco

Well, it's your decision what to do, but I think you're making a big mistake. Look at it from this perspective, you, who does not know anything about cars, is making a judgment about someone who does, based on what could well have been an honest mistake. Cars, like other things, often require adjustments and an observation period to see if the adjustment was correct. That's not necessarily a reflection of the ability of the mechanic - expert or not. If you don't give him the chance to look at it again you're doing the both of you a disservice. The guy didn't really screw the car up. He really made it better in a sense, he just didn't get it quite right. I think you should relax a little and take it back to him and simply explain the situation. If he makes it right, you'll only find yourself happier.

Reply to
Mike Marlow

I find this thread mildly amusing. Mostly because the beater loaner car i am driving now (thanks to bro in law) is a 1981 camareo. Its got a 350 built crate motor with a turbo 350. headers and duals make it sing. Even needing paint and some body work, its a attention getter. But TOTALLY impractical as a daily commuter. I need to adjust the 1406 carb, but i seem to be only getting 10/12 mpg in town. And that babying the gas.

bob

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Reply to
bob urz

The fast idle/choke pulloff has to be set when the engine is stone cold. If not done that way it can take several attempts to get it right. Be good to yourself and the mechanic.... take it back. Regards, JR

Reply to
JR

Yeah but Bob - you got it. Besides, in your line of work it just wouldn't be right to pull in a non-descript set of wheels, or god forbid, a mini-van or the likes.

Reply to
Mike Marlow

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