Pontiac Repair: 1990 pontiac firebird help!!, intake manifold gasket, pontiac firebird

Question
QUESTION: Okay I just bought this firebird for 1000 so far I've replaced all sparks and wires, distrubitor, and fuelinjectors. I have white smoke coming from the back of the engine near the distruibtor, shaky/low idle, the battery will not hold a charge, gas and oil fumes coming from the exhaust and the drive is alright but it won't shift to 3rd gear, insted the rpm will go to the red line and also the rpm is below 1k at idle. What can I do to fix this car, it'll be a collector someday and I want to cherish this car please help me.

ANSWER: What engine is in this a V6 or V8?

If the transmission will not shift into 3'rd gear and the engine revs up then 3'rd gear is gone in the transmission. It's either broken a gear set or burnt up the clutches. 3'rd gear on this transmission is VERY common to burn up on those older ones. If the battery will not hold a charge chances are it's just the battery is bad.


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QUESTION: The engine is a v6 and the trans is an automatic

Answer
Well as far as the white smoke it's more than likely steam from a leaking intake manifold gasket or a leaking head gasket? As for it running rough at Idle it can be a few things. From the base ignition timing being way off to maybe someone messed with the idle stop screw on the throttle body. To tell you the truth with out the aid of a scan tool it's impossable to tell you what may be wrong with this car. Any service engine soon lamp on? as for the transmission as stataed in the first reply the transmission is going to have to come apart to find out what's wrong with it. Good luck and don't fall in love with this car too soon it's 18 yeras old and more than likely not worth a whole lot of money especially with a V6 engine it it. so think long and hard before you sink a boat load of $ into a car that is not worth that much in the first place.