Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

magical camshaft

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 09:06 AM
  #1  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default magical camshaft

didn't know which section to put this in, because i can't tell if it's an external or internal problem.

yesterday, randomly, my car started idling like poop when i come to a stop sign, or when i'm parked, but i put it in gear. after it warms up, when i put it into gear, it's really rough like it's got a big cam in it, and it feels like it's gonna die. while driving, i can see a little bit of whitish smoke coming from the exhaust. turned it on once and something popped, and a small poof of smoke came from under the passenger wheel well, but i didn't see anything leaking.

sometimes it's hard to put it into gear, like it's really sticky. i checked trans fluid, oil, coolant, plugs, hoses, and everything's hooked up fine. please help asap because i'm leaving for pre-deployment training today and i'd like to get some kind of idea of what it is before i leave.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 02:12 PM
  #2  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

also, the fans are kicking on before it's even warmed up. hasn't done that before, then again it's getting into the 100's here.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 02:36 PM
  #3  
Camaro396's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,091
Likes: 7
From: Toledo, Oh
Default

My car did that back when it was stock when I broke a vacuum line that goes into the front of the intake. Just took a new peice of hose and put it on, and problem went away. It sounded pretty cammed up though until I fixed it.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 02:57 PM
  #4  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

my friend took it home and scanned it. turns out there was a misfire and the driver's side front o2 sensor is bad.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 02:58 PM
  #5  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

but what would cause the "pop" and poof of smoke?
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 03:24 PM
  #6  
plaf713's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: schenectady, ny
Default

bad o2, would cause the pop, probably running rich
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 05:30 PM
  #7  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

but it popped with smoke up front, and my exhaust is dumped over the axle.
makes sense why it would have done it, but i'm trying to figure out where the smoke came from.
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2008 | 11:25 AM
  #8  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

hopefully this weekend i'll be able to change out the o2 sensors and hope it's up and good. what should i check for if my trans is still sticky? like i said all fluids were good
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 24, 2008 | 12:06 PM
  #9  
99NMB's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, Missouri
Default

Possible blown head gasket, have you checked the coolant level?? White smoke and cooling fans coming on way early sounds like a blown head gasket to me.
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2008 | 12:30 PM
  #10  
socmguy's Avatar
Restricted User
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, NC
Default

could be head gasket, time for H/C!!!
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2008 | 01:16 PM
  #11  
03Sssnake's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 0
From: H-Town/Cypress
Default

Originally Posted by Camaro396
My car did that back when it was stock when I broke a vacuum line that goes into the front of the intake. Just took a new peice of hose and put it on, and problem went away. It sounded pretty cammed up though until I fixed it.
I agree as the same thing happened to me. The car idled like it had giant cam in it, and it was apparent that there was a vacuum leak, as there was a very loud hissing noise under the hood. Turned out the PCV plumbing that goes from valve covers to the intake had a huge hole burned into it at the back of the intake manifold.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2008 | 09:33 PM
  #12  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

well buddy found out that the #8 spark plug boot was a little off, so that cleared up the misfire (which i don't understand because it ran fine and it's been about a month since i changed plugs). hoping the o2 sensor will fix it up. so checking the head gasket, you gotta pull the heads i'm guessing?
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2008 | 09:54 PM
  #13  
jg_98ghost's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Default

do a pressure test on your car with all the plugs out. if a cylinder fills up with antifreeze youll know your head gasket is blown. alot easier then pulling the head. ive got a similar problem with my car and checking the head gasket with a pressure test tomorrow.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2008 | 09:59 PM
  #14  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

how do you go about doing that?
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2008 | 05:01 PM
  #15  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

bump for knowledge on pressure testing. (search rewarded me with little info)

and a reason why the trans would be sticking so bad.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2008 | 09:20 AM
  #16  
wtomlinson's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: 29 Palms, CA / Harrah, OK
Default

ttt...

i am getting a day off from training so i'm gonna go get my car on a lift today. any ideas on this pressure test? or how to do one?

also what should i look for if my trans is sticking (besides fluid, i checked that)?
Reply
Old Jun 29, 2008 | 10:57 AM
  #17  
ShortChevy's Avatar
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Muskegon, MI
Default

This is going to be very hard to explain. They make a tester that is a clear tube that you put a special liquid in and it fits in place of your rad. cap. You then hook a vacuum pump to the tube and run the car. While pumping the vacuum pump if the liquid turns a yellowish green color from its original blue, that means you have combustion gases in your cooling system (bad head gasket, cracked head, cracked block) You can find these kits at Napa, Carquest, I'm not sure of Advance or Autozone becuase I don't go there much. Or you can do a compression test. Hopefully you can understand the garbage I just said.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:28 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE