[TheCirque]

81 TA, 305, all stock…
Key in on position… all relays and vaccum switches related to smog crap just start clicking… click, click,click. Continue even when car is running.

Car starts and idles great. Battery checks out. Car revs fine in driveway but bucks chugs under load, going down road. (Not entirely sure its all related except all this came on suddenly. Been driving car all summer without a hick-up. I dont know where to start. Ughh.

Id gladly pull off all smog stuff and throw away if it helped.

Thanks for any input or direction.

[TheCirque]

Also… eBrake light on dash came on and stayed on at same time. I’ve checked ebrake wiring by and switch. All seems fine. Brake fluid is full… could use a flush.

[78w72]

Do you have the 81 GM service manual? Has all the steps for troubleshooting & servicing everything.

Have you checked the computer trouble codes, thats the starting point on 81 computer cars after all the basics tune up items are checked.

You can eliminate or bypass most the emissions crap that dont effect how the car runs, as long as your not in a state that does emission testing. I bypassed everything on my 81 Turbo TA- deleted EGR, catalytic converter, gutted the smog pump & bypassed all the related smog pump stuff.

[TheCirque]

I’m gonna sound really dumb here but How do i go about accessing computer codes? I have reader for newer cars.(OBDII) I didn’t actually know 81’s had similar option.
I’ve ordered a service manual… Any chance there’s an online manual?? Thx for chiming in.

[78w72]

The 81 US cars, not canada export, have a primitive computer system, way before ODB2, more like ODB .5, was the first year for GM using computer controlled carb & other systems.

Did you buy a GM service manual, much better than the paperback chiltons types, but both will have procedure for checking codes, or can find it online with some googling, its easy to do but best to have the manual to be sure you do it right.

Not aware of any online manuals, but should be tidbits of some things online like how to check codes on this 81 CCC system.

[TheCirque]

Yeah… got the actual service manual coming… few days out. Thx.