# Please help **URL:** \ **Category:** PittSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [February 23, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976 "2009-02-23T19:43:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jhorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e36b37/32.png) [@Jhorton](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jhorton)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/1 "2009-02-23T19:43:04Z")
Hi, I have a Camaro Z/28 that was running sluggish so i replaced the plugs in it then it was running fine…then the next day my temp gauge said the car was running hot and there was no pressure in the lines to the radiator…i didn’t think it was the water pump cause it wasn’t leaking and i replaced it not even 2000 miles ago. so i thought the thermostat might be bad so i replaced that then as soon as i started the car after replacing the thermostat the car backfired out the carb. then i started it back up and it was ok. I had pressure back in the hoses and everything. so i drove the car around my neighborhood to see if it might get hot and it didn’t so i took it on the main road and after maybe 20 seconds it got hot again so i pulled over shut it off and opened the hood. it wasn’t smoking so i turned it on it was still hot then turned it back off then tried to turn it on again i had no power so i called for a jump start and the car wouldn’t start it just backfires…so i had it towed home. the next day tried to start it again and it still backfires…CAN ANYONE HELP ME FIGURE IT OUT…PLEASE ---
**Author:** ![SoLow](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/solow/32/6001_2.png) [@SoLow](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SoLow)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 10:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/2 "2009-02-24T10:16:44Z")
i’m not good with Carbs but sounds like the timing is out ---
**Author:** ![Jhorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e36b37/32.png) [@Jhorton](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jhorton)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/3 "2009-02-24T12:50:22Z")
still even if timing is off wouldnt the car fire…could it be a head gasket? ---
**Author:** ![BlackZ28](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blackz28/32/5932_2.png) [@BlackZ28](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BlackZ28)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/4 "2009-02-24T19:27:29Z")
if the timing is off a decent amount, the car won’t fire at all. head gasket normally gives you warning signs before the car won’t run anymore. ---
**Author:** ![bgblockelcamino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bgblockelcamino/32/5997_2.png) [@bgblockelcamino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bgblockelcamino)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/5 "2009-02-24T20:23:36Z")
is a rad hose collapsed? will cause overheating how is rad? and sounds like timing is out. check for spark fuel compression ---
**Author:** ![Jhorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e36b37/32.png) [@Jhorton](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jhorton)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/6 "2009-02-25T00:36:11Z")
the hose isnt collapsed. Im getting spark. going to check compression tomorow. took off the valve covers to see if i could see any anifreeze in there and there wasnt. the brand new plugs i just put in were really fouled up though… ---
**Author:** ![slvr98camaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@slvr98camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/slvr98camaro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/7 "2009-02-25T04:36:47Z")
first off you need to check the timing, and tell us what the initial timing is, and what your total timing is what engine is this? do you have a vacuum advance distrib? how old is the engine? there are many things that can cause a backfire through the carb, one of the main reasons is bad timing, but backfire through the carb can also be caused by a flat lobe on the cam what kind of carb is this? after it backfired the first time, you need to check the power valve, you may have blown it and are dumping a ton of fuel in the engine which is why its backfiring even more now. ---
**Author:** ![Pewter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pewter/32/5936_2.png) [@Pewter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pewter)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/8 "2009-02-25T09:54:13Z")
> [@bgblockelcamino"](#): > > is a rad hose collapsed? will cause overheating > how is rad? > > and sounds like timing is out. check for spark fuel compression > [@DIY: Two Toned Interior \*too many pics\*](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-two-toned-interior-too-many-pics/11836/28): > > first off you need to check the timing, and tell us what the initial timing is, and what your total timing is > > what engine is this? do you have a vacuum advance distrib? > > how old is the engine? > > there are many things that can cause a backfire through the carb, one of the main reasons is bad timing, but backfire through the carb can also be caused by a flat lobe on the cam > > what kind of carb is this? after it backfired the first time, you need to check the power valve, you may have blown it and are dumping a ton of fuel in the engine which is why its backfiring even more now. 🍺 ---
**Author:** ![vw16vcabby](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vw16vcabby/32/5943_2.png) [@vw16vcabby](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vw16vcabby)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/9 "2009-02-25T19:43:04Z")
backfire through intake could be– timing to far advanced lean condition from air leak off the intake carb not jetted right or dirt. last thing i can think of-- do you have a fuel pressure regulator? if so, how is it reading. also, how is the car to rev at idle. if you snap the throttle, will it pick up and rev, or is it sluggish stutters then goes? if it sluggish/stutters then goes–that is the accel pump. it needs adjusted to come on sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Jhorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e36b37/32.png) [@Jhorton](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jhorton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/10 "2009-02-26T23:28:56Z")
the car wont even start so i dont know how to check timing ---
**Author:** ![Stippy17](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/stippy17/32/6053_2.png) [@Stippy17](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Stippy17)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/11 "2009-02-26T23:53:24Z")
> [@Who uses a can to scale a turbo?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/who-uses-a-can-to-scale-a-turbo/39731/4): > > the car wont even start so i dont know how to check timing > [@DIY: Two Toned Interior \*too many pics\*](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/diy-two-toned-interior-too-many-pics/11836/28): > > first off you need to check the timing, and tell us what the initial timing is, and what your total timing is > > what engine is this? do you have a vacuum advance distrib? > > how old is the engine? > > there are many things that can cause a backfire through the carb, one of the main reasons is bad timing, but backfire through the carb can also be caused by a flat lobe on the cam > > what kind of carb is this? after it backfired the first time, you need to check the power valve, you may have blown it and are dumping a ton of fuel in the engine which is why its backfiring even more now. If you want help you need to answer someone when they have questions for you. They can’t help if they dont know what your working with. :doh: ---
**Author:** ![blackfive-o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@blackfive-o](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/blackfive-o)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/12 "2009-02-27T05:27:14Z")
Put old plugs back in. ---
**Author:** ![slvr98camaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@slvr98camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/slvr98camaro)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/13 "2009-02-27T06:08:22Z")
> [@Who uses a can to scale a turbo?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/who-uses-a-can-to-scale-a-turbo/39731/4): > > the car wont even start so i dont know how to check timing then find TDC of number 1 piston, turn ign to on, hook up a timing light and turn the engine over by hand until the timing light comes on, and look at where the timing marks are, it will at least give you a general idea of what your distrib timing is minus the vacuum advance, and mechanical advance if you dont want to do that, then try turning the distrib clockwise just a TINY bit and see if it will start… tiny as in 1/4-1/2" movement from the vacuum advance cannister ---
**Author:** ![77rednecktruck](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/77rednecktruck/32/5966_2.png) [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 9:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/please-help/201976/14 "2009-02-27T09:02:04Z")
Loosen up the distributer and move it around until it starts and work from there. I had to do this with my truck when I forst got it. It only took a few minutes.