Hello Everyone:

I will not be a regular poster on this forum. I am known as Volman over at the CorvetteForum site. I drive a Corvette C4 black 95 LT1 coupe, and love it. I am pleased to visit here. My reason to post is that my daughter has purchased a blue 2000 Camaro Convertable (tan top) with a V6. Her first car that she bought herself.

As a Vette driver, my apologies to everyone for not knowing the Camaro vocabulary. Based upon my Vette C4 experience, I would like to please ask the members here if some things from my Vette world apply to the Camaro world. Her car is a 2000 with a V6 with 133k miles. The car looks great and seems in fine shape.

First, just as an FYI. I am just a helping dad. My daughter worked and paid for this car. It's hers. I will help with any needed maintenance. As kids go, she has been the one in my home who I could always count on. She always came through in a tough time. Given my love of Chevys, I am really happy that, on her own, she is continuing the family Chevy tradition.

Ok, with respect, my questions.

1. With my Vette I have a 2 book Helms Factory Manual that is my bible for workingon my car. Is there something like this in the Camaro world?

2. I usually buy my parts through a catalog issued my Mid America. Does anyone have any recommendations for the best way to buy parts?

3. Are there any usual problems associated with the 2000 Camaro V6 engine. In some ways it looks like my LT1. OK, in my world as my Vette is a bottom breather I have to watch out for stuff collecting around the radiator and causing overheating. Also, overheating wasa problem until I installed a Dewitts radiator (best $ I ever spent, but my wife s&&& when she found out how much I paid for it -LOL). IOW, what, if any, are the major issues I should watch out for regarding her engine.

4. I my workd, I use green coolant, and never ever anything else. Is the Camaro also sensative on the coolant type used?

5, The Optispark distributor is a "thing" to watch out for (because its below the water pump) on my car. Does the Camero also use the Optispark?

6. The rear bottom seats are loose from the back. How can this be fixed?

Again, these questions are basic, but i need to start to learn the 2000 Camaro. I have had my Vette for 2 years and am very active on that site (CorvetteForum), so I have learned a lot about that car in that time.

My daughter is special to me, and I wish to help her on maintenance until she becomes more familar with her new car.

She is no snotty brat. When my wife became extremely ill, at age 11 she took over cooking of the family meals and doing the grocery shopping and running the house. She works for her money. She loves to drive. Also, to be honest, she likes high performance cars, so this car seems to be a good fit. Until now she had to share my wifes Camry - kinda boring driving I am sure.

I thank everyone for your time.

if anyone is ever over at the Corvette site, give me a wave.

Chevys rule

Regards,

Volman
"save the wave"

 

1. You can use a Hanes Manual thats what i have.

2. there are alot of sites that have parts for V8s and V6s alike. Jegs and Summit i believe have parts for both.

3. idk about the V6 since i have a V8

4. My camaro isnt coolant sensative as far as i know. I believe the last coolant i bougt was PEAK and it was blue.

5. I dont believe the V6s have an optispark and if they do their not as troublesome as the LT1s

6. The rear bottom seats just move strange but they just do. Great place to store small crap though lol.

 

I have never heard of any issues with debris and dust/dirt getting caught in the radiator causing overhearting, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. The V6 cars do not have an optispark distributor, plus it's a 2000, so even if it had a V8 it would have the LS1, and thus no Opti. The 3800 the car has in it is a pretty solid motor, I haven't heard of any chronic issues with it. As far as the seats, I can only suggest making sure everything is tightened as it should be. The back seats aren't very useful for anything anyway, unless you're a brief case or a midget without legs you really can't ride back there anyway.

 

v6 camaros dont have optispark, and I buy my parts off of ebay and jegs.

 

The rear seats are designed like that, all of them have that problem. They are only held in by one bolt in the front.

 

Sounds like your daughter has a good head on her shoulders and like most kids they usually get that from their parents. I owned a 94 V6 Camaro and it was a reliable car so you shouldn't see to many issues. The newer 3800 series motors are, in my opinion, a better engine than the 3.4 I had. I currently own a 01 Monte SS and the 3800 is a great DDand does good on gas.

 

woah [&:] those vette guys must be pretty viscious (i dont think i spelled that right...... i dont mean thick fluid... i mean "mean" [&o]) if u come in here tiptoe-ing like that

1. haynes, its what i use. i feel that they could be more specific some times but it gets the job done
2. you looking for aftermarket or stock replacement? v6 parts are harder to come by than lt1 parts. u may end up going to the dealership for some parts [:'(]
3. camaros are also bottom breathers, however ive never heard of any problems with the radiator over a grill-ed car
4. dexcool. its orange
5. im not a v6 guy but i think lt1 is the only optispark problematic car.
6. that haynes manual will walk you through removal and re-installation of the seats. take em out and see whats wrong with them. if im hearing u right the "butt part" is tipping foreward?

 

did she get a 5speed or a auto?

only problems i had with mine(96) was ignition switch, starter, and alternator. but it had 133kmi on it, starter went 2x. alternator went 4x(had nice stereo....). but the alternator, if you buy from advance, if you buy one, and it fails, you get all the next ones for free, and it's a 20min install on these 3.8s.