Serious Problems with Alero

I do not own this car but am looking into it for a friend. I am somewhat handy with cars but no professional but it looks like a fuel problem to me. He told me its been occuring recently so I asked him to show me. He gets in the car and tries to start it and it turns and wont start, unless, he gives the throttle a good shove (which he does everytime he starts). I noticed black smoke coming from his exhaust and then his rpm's drop low and the engine studders as if its being choked (fuel or air). He told me he has just put on a new set of spark plugs, but could still be the reason as I don't trust him to have done a perfect job. He also told me that he has been burning oil like crazy and the shop didnt try and fix it when he had it in, just told him the oil was low. I though possibly a EGR vavle but they usually run better then this. This engine was barely alive when he let it idle, always skipping a beat, very choppy. Seemed, like I said, a fuel related problem, but could be anything. Please let me know if you can help. Thanks alot.

P.S. I do not know the model of the car but it is a 1999, if the model is must have knowledge, let me know and I will get it.

Is it a V6 or I4?

Jeremy

It's a v6

Ok, so, you have "a friend" who is having this problem.

Was the engine running properly prior to changing the spark plugs?

When your "friend" changed the plugs did he/she do them one at a time to ensure that the sparkplug wires did not get mixed up during the replacement process?

You quote "friend" as if it were me. I have a WRX but I just like to tinker with cars before I go to automotive school this coming fall. A local mechanic figured out that it was the fuel something, god now the name aludes me. My friend bought the new part for 6 bucks and now its better.

You quote "friend" as if it were me.

Just a little friendly banter. Nothing malicious intended. Glad you (your friend) figured out the problem. A $6 part? Sounds pretty simple. Was it just the Fuel Filter that was clogged and therefore replaced?

If you can find out please post as we'd like to know for future reference.

Thanks my "friend"!

As far as the not starting, and acting like its choking out, does the sparkplugs have the correct gap????