My name is Lisa and I have a 98 3.8 V6 manual camaro (which I have wanted one since i was a kid) and I have been having some startup issues with my car for some time now...I replaced the plugs about 3 years ago (car is only summer driven) and have recently replaced the plug wires, coil pack, and starter!! The car does have high miles but runs fine once it is running!! It also seems easier to re-start when it's still warm! When cold though, I usually have to pump the gas a little while I crank the ignition to start it up...and once it starts I have to keep feathering on and off the gas pedal till it clears out (I'm assuming this is flooding the engine) and it will then idle. If I don't feather the gas and just release the pedal...the car dies!! If I don't give it any gas when trying to start it up it either doesn't start or it takes a lot of time and cranking to start (embarrassing). Another couple things I noticed: sometimes I go to start the car and get nothing (no light, no power to the car at all) so I remove my key let the car sit and try again and she starts up!! Or if i'm driving along and put pressure on the steering wheel my stereo will kick off!! Not sure if any of this is related but yeah these are my issues...please help...I am really frustrated (especially with the startup issue) and am even considering getting rid of my "baby" just to be rid of these problems!! Any knowledgeable input would be appreciated!!

 

time to change the plugs. might consider changing the 02 sensors and have the injectors cleaned and flow tested. test fuel pressure. unlike a carberated motor pumping gas peddle adds air on a fuel injected system so you may have a rich condition (to much fuel) aging 02 sensors can give a false lean (to little fuel) causing the computer to add fuel when its not needed. it probly would be a good idea to change the intake manifold gaskets (upper and lower) in the near future if it already has not been done. seem to be a weak point on the v6,,,, well on the lt1 too, we leak oil only. anyways theres a few things to look at. i moved your thread to the 4th gen v6 section for yah. wow you been a member from 08?

 

Is you steering wheel loose. Can you shake it back and forth? This can cause both you no start and Stereo issue.

There is couple of things that could be going on the starting issue. I would do a pressure test of the fuel system cold and I would clean the thottle body, Idle air control motor and its port. I would also clean out the EGR valve seat to make sure it is full seating. Next step would be to check out a scan tool and make sure the MAP sensor is giving a good reading. Some injector cleaner may help also.

 

you guys are going wayyy too deep into this issue. simple fix, change your fuel filter. without paying someone to look at it theres a million problems but i would start with the fuel filter. it gets overlooked far too often.

also something that my 3.8 does is hickup every once in a while on cold starts because oil gets past the valves and settles in the combustion chamber causing it to misfire for a couple seconds then run fine. that could be the issue....... but my best bet is on the fuel system. and a great place to start is that filter

 

-Plugs were changed about 3 years ago (keep in mind car is only summer driven) so would they really need to be changed this soon after? They are a pain to get to so i'd rather not do them again if I dont have to!! LOL

-And yes, I have been a member since 2008. I was in Nursing school and was really busy and not to mention broke lol so, my "baby" wasn't priority, especially since I have another car (sunfire) which I drive year round! Now that I have graduated, I can start focusing on the camaro more and make her the camaro I've always wanted.

-I don't recall any play in the steering wheel and/or steering column, but I will definitely pay attention to that when I get my car out of storage

-Thanks for all the great input. I definitely have some ideas and I really like the "starting small/simple" with the fuel filter thing. I'm sure its long overdue to be changed and at least now I have somewhere to start!

Again Thanks so much and ill keep you guys posted once I get to troubleshooting my issues!! Tty'sL

 

pull the coil wire and make sure its connecting right, pull a couple plugs and see if they are fouling. my lt1 will run like crab off and on when the plugs are getting fouled. after so long it wont start at all.

 

the car runs fine once it is warm (starts right up and idles fine)...it's just on cold starts that it is hard to start and initial idle (that it doesn't like to idle)...not sure if that makes a difference but ill consider it too Thanks