I have a 2000 SS Camaro I bought new Dec. 1999. It is a 6 speed. 30,000 miles. Warranty is history and I am unemployed at the time so I have no money to take it in.

A couple of years ago this started and is getting worse. It started doing it only when it was cold out, when I would take off after starting the car. When I let off the gas and pushed in the clutch to shift from first to second. You would here a cackling or popping type sound from the exhaust. Now it does it everytime I take off, hot or cold out. It also does it through all the gears now. After the engine warms up it doesn't do it.

I used to hear other cars do this, like Mustangs. I thought it sounded like crap. Now my car does it. It is embarrassing. I hate leaving places. People seeing me off and telling me how cool my car is and I take off slow and drive down the road in first gear. Embarrassed to let off the gas.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

My 2002 Z28 does the same thing. I believe it is worse when the air pump is injecting into to the exhaust manifolds on a cold engine. As soon as the engine warms up it stops. If yours is continuing, give the air injection system a good looking over. Perhaps the diverter valve is not working properly or the check valves have rusted through.

I had this problem once apon a time. I ripped all the emissions controlls out and no more problem (back in the mid 80's). I wouldn't suggest you do this, but thats where your problem lies I'll bet. Atleast a place to start looking.

I'm not familiar with the new A.I.R. systems, but when the diverter valve diaphragm failed on the 60's-70's systems, the valve defaulted to full open, which dumped air into the manifolds all the time, and that caused the same symptom - "popping" on overrun. You said yours is OK after it warms up, so it may have something to do with however the valve is controlled on the newer cars - the older ones just had a vacuum signal hose from the carb.
:beers:

If it is doing it all the time now, it's good you are trying to figure out why. If it is the A.I.R. system, that catalistic convertor will be hotter than a snakes belly in a wagon rut.