EGR problem??

[psjermey]

Hey, I'm new to these boards so please try to bear with me. I have a '93 Astro 2WD V6. The problem is that over the past 2 years it has started to basically not work. It's begans to flood and start very hard - rolls good - but just floods. It used get progressively worse over a period of a couple of days but yesterday it was working fine, went to start it and it just wont run unless you hold the throtle down. Idling is out of the question, Backfires through the carb and just sputters. Now, the one strange this about this is that it seems to be worse when it's damp...esp. when there's wet snow and air temp around 0 degrees Celsius - freezing. In warmer summer weather it takes a few days after it starts behaving badly before it basically quits. Another strange thing is that if left setting for a week or so, it'll work fine again...but for how long, you never now. It's been tuned up recently with all the usuals and was working fine all winter - we've had some -35 temps here in January (here being Nova Scotia, Canada) and other than starting a bit tuff it ran very well. The weather turned to wet snow and bang - same problem. So, any advice you guys could offer is really appreciated. Oh yeah, it has 170000 km (106000 mi) on it.

Thanks, scott.

[RABarrett]

The problems you describe indicate weak ignition. Check the wires, cap and rotor, etc, especially the rotor. These units are on record for carbon tracking to the shaft, aggravating the problem when the humidity is high. Ray

[psjermey]

Thanks for your reply, Ray. I'll try that this afternoon if I get a chance.

One thing I should add: I took the cover off and noticed that the previous owner had the egr hose unhooked and just looped the silenoid back into itself...top tube on the solenoid. Obviously they had trouble with it in the past. I took the hose off completely, tried it hooked up properly and still no start. At least yesterday it would start - it just didn't have enough power to move.

[psjermey]

Well, I got the cap off and the button was all carboned up and very damp inside. However, even though the cap, button and wires had all been replaced less than 5000 mi ago, the button had corroded on the shaft so that of course cracked when I PRYED it off. That free labour to do the last tune up was worth what I paid for it. I Can't get one 'till tomorrow so after 3 1/2 days of screwing around with it - I'm going this afternoon and have a few beer. Also gives me a chance to charge the battery that had been killed from cranking an engine that just wont start.

Update: Bad fuel injector. Replaced it, works fine.