changed the O2 sensor, still some problems
 

so i had the driver's side changed and it certainly improved things, a smoother ride for the most part, and an increase in gas mileage. however some things are present.

-the idle fluctuates, usually hovers around 500
-when the idle fluctuates, so does the thermostat gauge.
-when cruising at around 50+ it will feel like its missing
- smells like its running rich

could it be the computer needs to correct itself? after the O2 sensor was put in, it still bad like before, though after a little bit of driving, most of it cleared up

What brand did you go with? I have heard from my tuner that delco are the only good ones on the market. The other switch too slow

yeah i did go with ACDelco

Just a suggestion, but try a new IAC. Sounds a lot like a problem I was having. Do you have access to HP Tuners? That can help lead you in the right direction.

Sounds like electrical if more than one gauge is fluctuating. Do you still have a check engine light with any codes? I've cleaned the IAC needle in the past, they can start to get gunked up over time with it pulling oil mist in through the pcv connection. I remember the gauges going a bit crazy right before the original battery rotted out the side post. But that seems to be a problem mainly with the original AC Delco batteries. Check the battery leads and the grounds.

hmm i'll check the battery, but if its electrical would that be causing the fluctuating idle and bucking feeling when driving?

and the temp gauge isn't consistantly moving around going from the 240 to ~120

so on my drive home from work tonight this is what was happening.

driving at 50 Mph, the RPMs were at 1500, they would jump up to 2000 then back down to 1500. it would be going back and forth.

then when i put it in park, the idle started changing, the temp gauge followed it as well. *when i started the car before coming home the idle was fine*

I am assuming the gauges are moving but do you hear the car's idle fluctuating?

The temp gauge is just a dummy light in that year Camaro. It's either at temp or cold. But if it's jumping around, that sounds like electrical. If you can definitely hear it change rpm's while driving or idling then something is up. It could be locking/unlocking the converter but at idle it almost sounds like a vacuum leak. It would be interesting to see what the computer and sensor are showing while it's running.

If the temp sending unit is going bad, the computer might be getting a fluctuating reading and locking/unlocking the converter or even bumping up the idle rpm.

yeah i can definetly hear it change at idle, and i can feel it and hear it while driving.

and no codes are showing up.

where is the temp sending unit located?

Could be a bad ground or ripple voltage. Check grounds, you can also unplug the alternator and see if driveability improves to rule out ripple voltage.

Drivers side head. on the side right up front. its right before the first plug and coil on that head.

any way to physically see or know its bad?

and as for voltage i noticed it was at ~15? the white marker between 13 and 18

First check to make sure the wire is connected to the sensor securely, it might be loose causing the reading to change. You would need to see the voltage coming from the sensor, not the voltage on the gauges. You would need a scanner or some sort to read the sensor voltage while it's running.

well it could be it. when taking the bolts out to change the header gasket the wrench hit the female connector and broke it off. the 2 pieces form the sensor are still there, the female part will just slide over the sensor, not locking. could be the cause of everything?

and to change the female part it looks like i'll have to cut and solder. i just want to be sure before i hack anything up

well i changed it then decided to go on a drive to see how the car ran.

first i did some driving around town, a consistent 40-50 mph.

then i decided i was hungry so some slower town driving+ some stop and go was what i did next when i went to get a buttered roll and coffee from quickcheck. the car did fine there too.

then it was time for highway, i figured i may as well go to best buy and get the new Slash cd. car did fine and the cd is awesome.

then some more cruising up and down route 18 and no problems there either.
the only thing was at one point it backfired a bit under slight acceleration.

overall its doing better. i had no idea something like that sensor would give me all those problems. thanks a lot

That's good. I think someone else had a similar problem not too long ago. I remember how that sensor and wire get in the way when doing plugs. It might take some driving to clean it out if it was loading up with the rich condition.