The "Other" IROC-Z Thread

[Jack_71C10]

I bought an 89 RS 5.0/5spd new. put over 400K miles on it before giving it to my son. I wasn't a Camaro guy until I test drove one. I was there to buy a family car.

[68bowtie]

Question for you guys…

The first new battery went dead after less than a year. Wouldn’t even take a charge. Got the second new battery. Put it in the car. Drive it into the garage. It sat there for the last few weeks while we took care of the wheels and tires. Put it in the ground and went to fire it up and nothing… Hooked the charger up to the battery and it won’t charge again.

What am I missing? Seems like we either hot a second defective battery in a row (unlikely) or the car is killing batteries. Not draining them… killing them.

[LS short box]

So assuming you took them back to the place you purchased them for a free replacement what did they say?

[OutlawDrifter]

Any aftermarket wiring for an alarm or audio stuff?

Weird to kill a battery in that short amount of time.

[68bowtie]

Originally Posted by LS short box

So assuming you took them back to the place you purchased them for a free replacement what did they say?

Actually they didn’t say a word the just brought me out a new battery.

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Any aftermarket wiring for an alarm or audio stuff?

Weird to kill a battery in that short amount of time.

Not that I can see

[LS short box]

The old fashioned way to check for a battery draw is with a test light. Disconnect the pos battery cable from the battery. Then connect the the test light clip to the cable and then touch the probe to the battery terminal. If it lights up you have a draw some where. Start pulling fuses until the light goes out.

[68bowtie]

Thanks! Will try that when I get over this nasty flu…

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by LS short box

The old fashioned way to check for a battery draw is with a test light. Disconnect the pos battery cable from the battery. Then connect the the test light clip to the cable and then touch the probe to the battery terminal. If it lights up you have a draw some where. Start pulling fuses until the light goes out.

x2.
One of the guys I worked w/@ Sears during my high school years (early 80's) taught me this.

[68bowtie]

Boo

[68bowtie]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

Thanks! Will try that when I get over this nasty flu…

Apparently I had covid AND strep throat, no wonder I felt like crap… lol all good now

[TotallyHucked]

I just got over the flu myself. That's an awesome car y'all scored! My 2nd car (1st road worthy car) in HS was an '87 IROC but it was a lowly carb'd 305/700R4/2.73 open rear end.

My car had the remnants of an old late 80s/early 90s alarm on it. There were extra door switches in door jambs and under the hood/hatch. There was a slight draw there that killed my battery until my dad and I yanked it all. Something to check out. Or an aftermarket radio would be the next thing I'd check

[57taskforce]

If you haven’t found it yet you might check your rear hatch motor. Mine was running my battery dead intermittently for a bit till I took it apart and cleaned all the old hard lithium grease out of it and re-lubed it.

[68bowtie]

I really appreciate it guys.

I just upgraded my multi meter so I can measure amps now.

I’ll report back once I dig into it.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

That's good getting your boy into a car where hopefully he will remember all the work he just did. Before he tries to out Mustang a Mustang.

Have you schooled him on how its mandatory he grow a mullet now? Preferably a Tennessee waterfall. Wear ripped jeans like he is the lead singer of Deaf Leppard. Always be wearing a wife beater or cut the sleeves off every other shirt you wear.

Gotta rep you know.

[68bowtie]

Lol yeah I actually did tell him I’m gonna buy him a headband mullet if he doesn’t grow one of his own lol

[LT7A]

How are things going with this ride? I also have a liking for these 3rd gens - it's cool to see how many of the truck brethren like them.

[68bowtie]

Well, unfortunately every weekend I either have somewhere else to be, or it's raining. Lots of both lately. Still need to get out there and find the battery drain. I did hook it up the other day and drove it around the block to get the fluids warmed up. It wasn't running quite right. Not sure what's up with that. Stay tuned... But don't hold your breath lol

[68bowtie]

Here it is in waiting…

Looks way better in photos than it does in person lol

[68bowtie]

Well, took the old girl to the shop to get help figuring out why it won't run right any more. They gave up. So I'm giving up. I just don't have the time to deal with this. Car is listed on Modesto craigslist.

[SCOTI]

Someone will snag it to LS swap it.

[RustyPile]

If I weren't half a continent away, I'd have already snagged it, fixed the run problem and be driving it like I stole it..

[68bowtie]

When it runs right it sounds perfect with the muffler removed haha

[57taskforce]

What does it do when it’s not running right? What are the symptoms?

[68bowtie]

It cranks well and fires right away but stumbles like it needs fuel. Bumping the throttle doesn’t help, almost hurts it, it’s like it’s starving for air maybe. Every 4th time or so it starts and idles fine. That’s throwing me off.

[57taskforce]

Have you tried the paper clip trick to test it for trouble codes?