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Warning: Long post but I attempted to cover everything
Basics- 1994 Camaro, 3.4L, 5 speed, 251,802 miles
I purchased the vehicle when I turned 16 in 2001 and the engine has been problem free. As of late, the car has progressively gotten worse during start up. What I mean is that when you turn the key, the engine turns over for upwards of 30 seconds before the engine starts. Here's an example, however this is now considered a "quick start". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X2EYXgTK1U
I assume the problem lies within the fuel pump but due to the price, labor involved, and my lack of time off, I have not been able to address the issue. The problem became so bad that I killed a battery before it would start. Quick fix at the time....spraying a small amount of starting fluid in the air intake elbow just before the throttle body before starting the car. Seemed to work, atleast for the time being.
Fast forward to 6-4-10. I was using the vehicle to run some errands and I heard a strange sound coming from underneath the hood. The only way I know how to explain the sound is to imagine using a vacuum cleaner to clean up tiny rocks on a floor. The sound the rocks make as they strike the hoses while en route to the container.........that's the sound. This sound went on for approximately 30 seconds at which point the engine began to stutter. As I pulled over to give everything the once over, the sound stopped and engine resumed it's normal operations.
Parked the vehicle that night without any new problems. Started the vehicle on 6-5-10 using the starting fluid without incident. Drove approximately 2 miles to the store and parked the vehicle for 30-45 mins. Upon starting the vehicle up, I noticed a slight amount of smoke from the tail pipes in my rear view mirror. I didn't think much of it as the car is old contrary. As I was pulling out onto the road, the engine began to stutter and shut off on me.
Double checked the gauges and noticed the gas was low so I assumed it was just low on gas. Restarted the car and drove across the street to a gas station. Filled up the tank and started the vehicle at which point a friend stopped by so we pulled over to the side and began talking while our vehicle's were still running. I heard what sounded like an electrical arch over and over again and then the engine began to run on what felt like 5 cylinders.
Leaving the engine running, I popped the hood and noticed the number 6 plug wire was the colprit as the boot was burnt. It was at that moment that I noticed the vehicle a white-ish gray smoke pouring from the tail pipes.
I got the car home were it was parked until 6-7-10 when I could run some tests and not get soaked due to the rain. I replaced the number 6 spark plug wire as the previous one was toast. Next I checked the coolant which was the normal green/rusty color it always is and there was ZERO oil present. I then checked the oil, which was 1 quart low, and observed ZERO coolant present. Also I had and have NO over heating issues.
Once this was done I started the vehicle but did not using any starting fluid. The car started and was running on all 6 cylinders, but this is what I observed from the tail pipes....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjmaRcU2jFo
After the car reached normal operating temps, the engine shut down to 5 cylinders. There was no electrical arching or tapping sounds from the engine this time after I replaced the plug wire. I shut the car down, pulled all the plugs and plugs 1,3, and 5 on the driver's side are all dry and the correct color. Plugs 2 and 4 on the passenger side where dry; however, they were slightly blackened. Plug number 6 however was loose and soaking wet with oil.
I preformed a cylinder compression test and got the following results:
Driver side
Cylinder 1: 172 psi
Cylinder 3: 165 psi
Cylinder 5: 162 psi
Passenger side
Cylinder 2: 165 psi
Cylinder 4: 161 psi
Cylinder 6: 144 psi
These were the highest readings obtained during the compression cycle. Using my manual as a guide, I added approximately 3 squirts of oil into the number 6 cylinder and completed the compression test again and got a result of 165 psi. The manual states this is a tell-tell sign that the piston ring is bad.
My questions are:
1.) Is this correct?
2.) Does it sound like my piston rings are indeed the problem?
3.) If the piston rings are not the problem, what is?
4.) How do I go about fixing the problem?
5.) How much money am I looking at dropping if I perform the job vs. a shop?...roughly speaking of course
6.) What are my options?
Thanks, A.J.
Basics- 1994 Camaro, 3.4L, 5 speed, 251,802 miles
I purchased the vehicle when I turned 16 in 2001 and the engine has been problem free. As of late, the car has progressively gotten worse during start up. What I mean is that when you turn the key, the engine turns over for upwards of 30 seconds before the engine starts. Here's an example, however this is now considered a "quick start". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X2EYXgTK1U
I assume the problem lies within the fuel pump but due to the price, labor involved, and my lack of time off, I have not been able to address the issue. The problem became so bad that I killed a battery before it would start. Quick fix at the time....spraying a small amount of starting fluid in the air intake elbow just before the throttle body before starting the car. Seemed to work, atleast for the time being.
Fast forward to 6-4-10. I was using the vehicle to run some errands and I heard a strange sound coming from underneath the hood. The only way I know how to explain the sound is to imagine using a vacuum cleaner to clean up tiny rocks on a floor. The sound the rocks make as they strike the hoses while en route to the container.........that's the sound. This sound went on for approximately 30 seconds at which point the engine began to stutter. As I pulled over to give everything the once over, the sound stopped and engine resumed it's normal operations.
Parked the vehicle that night without any new problems. Started the vehicle on 6-5-10 using the starting fluid without incident. Drove approximately 2 miles to the store and parked the vehicle for 30-45 mins. Upon starting the vehicle up, I noticed a slight amount of smoke from the tail pipes in my rear view mirror. I didn't think much of it as the car is old contrary. As I was pulling out onto the road, the engine began to stutter and shut off on me.
Double checked the gauges and noticed the gas was low so I assumed it was just low on gas. Restarted the car and drove across the street to a gas station. Filled up the tank and started the vehicle at which point a friend stopped by so we pulled over to the side and began talking while our vehicle's were still running. I heard what sounded like an electrical arch over and over again and then the engine began to run on what felt like 5 cylinders.
Leaving the engine running, I popped the hood and noticed the number 6 plug wire was the colprit as the boot was burnt. It was at that moment that I noticed the vehicle a white-ish gray smoke pouring from the tail pipes.
I got the car home were it was parked until 6-7-10 when I could run some tests and not get soaked due to the rain. I replaced the number 6 spark plug wire as the previous one was toast. Next I checked the coolant which was the normal green/rusty color it always is and there was ZERO oil present. I then checked the oil, which was 1 quart low, and observed ZERO coolant present. Also I had and have NO over heating issues.
Once this was done I started the vehicle but did not using any starting fluid. The car started and was running on all 6 cylinders, but this is what I observed from the tail pipes....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjmaRcU2jFo
After the car reached normal operating temps, the engine shut down to 5 cylinders. There was no electrical arching or tapping sounds from the engine this time after I replaced the plug wire. I shut the car down, pulled all the plugs and plugs 1,3, and 5 on the driver's side are all dry and the correct color. Plugs 2 and 4 on the passenger side where dry; however, they were slightly blackened. Plug number 6 however was loose and soaking wet with oil.
I preformed a cylinder compression test and got the following results:
Driver side
Cylinder 1: 172 psi
Cylinder 3: 165 psi
Cylinder 5: 162 psi
Passenger side
Cylinder 2: 165 psi
Cylinder 4: 161 psi
Cylinder 6: 144 psi
These were the highest readings obtained during the compression cycle. Using my manual as a guide, I added approximately 3 squirts of oil into the number 6 cylinder and completed the compression test again and got a result of 165 psi. The manual states this is a tell-tell sign that the piston ring is bad.
My questions are:
1.) Is this correct?
2.) Does it sound like my piston rings are indeed the problem?
3.) If the piston rings are not the problem, what is?
4.) How do I go about fixing the problem?
5.) How much money am I looking at dropping if I perform the job vs. a shop?...roughly speaking of course
6.) What are my options?
Thanks, A.J.
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