00 Alero - Crapmobile

[rockclimber32]

This is in regard to 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, the story begins here:

Car sat for 4-5 days while on vacation (prior to leaving no problems-keep in mind-NO PROBLEMS). Got home drove for 4-5 days still NO PROBLEMS. Then seemingly out of the blue I go to start the car one morning and there is trouble getting the car to start, I’m no genius but I know that there are typically a limited number of things that can keep a car from starting like the starter, alternator, spark, battery and/ or fuel-pump, filter etc... So I have the battery and alternator tested at parts store-all good-plugs replaced in February barely 10k put on them. Thought it might be throttle position sensor, bought & replaced that problem was not solved- I then cleaned and check the iac valve again-that did not fix the issue.

Once car is started it runs and drives normal it’s just the getting started part that is the pain in the arse. I changed the fuel filter thinking that might be it even though the one I pulled off was new from February as well. I basically did the normal 100k service on car in February and I can’t figure out what the heck the problem is. Sometimes-not all the time but sometimes once the car finally does turnover there is a pretty significant amount of grey smoke coming out of the exhaust-not good. Also, if I pump the gas pedal while turning the key this usually aides in starting the car quicker. Any advice and/ or help would be wonderful so I can sell this thing and be done with this crapmobile!

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF !

Did you clean your TB and IAC port when you replaced those components ??

The IAC port gets clogged and can cause several issues with starting and idling.

Have you had it scanned for trouble codes ??

Also what engine size ??

[rockclimber32]

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

Welcome to AF !

Did you clean your TB and IAC port when you replaced those components ??

The IAC port gets clogged and can cause several issues with starting and idling.

Have you had it scanned for trouble codes ??

Also what engine size ??

Lets see, first off its 4 banger 2.4L. Yes I did clean throttle body and idle air port with brake cleaner and "lint free" cloth (fancy I know)...I can say its probably something I could do again just to be "extra" thorough. SES light came on once and took it to auto zone and it generated a code about the gas cap being loose or not tight; at least thats what the guy told me. So I disconnected battery to reset computer. Tightened cap almost to point of it clicking and loosening again and it doesn't come on anymore (unless the starting of the car is hard, then it will come on again) Im just one of those kind of guys that i don't like taking it somewhere where i don't know who is reading these codes-(clearly I have trust issues)-cause i've always been able to take care of these issues on my own and because of this I have no real mechanics I take my car too cause I've never needed to.

I can get the car to start with a "gentle" pumping of the gas while turning the key and once it is started the car runs fine-drives just like it always has, with exception of a rough idle after it starts-but after its been driven the rough idle goes away-it is just getting the damn thing started properly. I noticed that I am getting a negligible difference in fuel economy. Im wondering if it is a fuel pump going bad? I looked to see if there was a throttle cable adjustment thinking if I could get the throttle cable tighter there would be a chance that I wouldn't have to pump the gas and it would idle higher than it is. It used to idle at around 1000 rpm at idle now it idles btwn 500 & 750-just my luck its probably the damn battery or something small, even though I have had the battery & alternator tested....who knows- any thoughts?

[xeroinfinity]

On the code(s) Im sure it didnt say your gas cap was loose most likly an "evap emission - small leak", which the gas cap is the easiest to check and replace but not always the culprit.
If you get any codes , post them here, we can help you figure them out if you're at a lose. And disconnecting the battery wont clear dtc's.

Could also be a vacum leak under the hood, I would check all of these and the ones back by the gas tank.
Your injectors could even be dirty/clogged. Bad injetors is very typical for these N bodies causing all sorts of troubles. Try running some injector cleaner thru it and see if that helps.

To check fuel pressure you have to rent/buy an adapter and hose w/gauge, then it attches to the fuel lines on the engine, a real PITA but could be part of your troubles.

And Btw brake cleaner might not have cleaned the IAC/TB port thuroughly. I'd double check that !