i took it back to the shop today and they said the EGR gasket was messed up and the metal tube to the actual engine had a hole

 

okay now theyre saying it has to be the timing. any ideas on how much that would run me? could i do it myself?

 

it is very unusual for a timing chain to slip on these. even on the 3.4. these guys seem to be jumping around on diagnosing,,, i would go to a different shop and see what they have to say.

 

I am taking it to a new shop tomorrow, hopefully they'll give me some good news.

 

Interested to hear what the other shop says.

I bought a 1998 Camaro a couple months ago, had the same symptoms and after doing some repairs myself, (spark plugs and wires), it ended up being an ignition coil. After I had that replaced, it's been running great...for a v6 lol.

 

i mentioned the ignition coil and they said they would have known if that was bad. im really leaning towards the IAC valve and the PCV valve. ive head both cause really sluggish performance, rich gas, and i know the IAC can cause a very high/ rough idle. i noticed today when i let the car warm up for 20 minutes, it was idling around 2300 rpms then as soon as i put it in drive it dropped down to 1100 where it should be. also almost every light in my car has gone out, speedometer, all lights on dash like the ac controls, the trunk button in the glove compartment, the rearview mirror lights, and when i try to plug my radio in it wont power up. and my "check gauges" and "check engine" light keep coming on and off. please any advice would help... really getting frustrated with this car.

 

sounds like you have a wicked electrical issue