93 sunbird start problems

[jmanofktown]

hi,
I was reading you answers and thought you could help me. I have a 93 'bird and my problem is...When it sits over night or for 6+hrs...mainly on cold days, he bird wont startup. I end up killin' my battery and a charge doesn't help too much just keeps draining the battery. So here are some details to help you out. When trying to start the starter works but the engine just doesn't get over . It almost feels like it's not receiving fuel, but I can get it started on warm days.
The last 2 days have been frustrating, stuck at home. When it starts(in the past) I need to punch hard on the gas pedal or very quickly tap it till it seems alright to idle on it's own. On the same note if it starts but then dies, because I didn't tap on the gas enough them I can not start it for awhile.
Secondly When she's being the bitch she is, and not firing up, when I let go of the ignition, it sometimes lets out a loud backfire. It does blow smoke(white). Till warm anyways. It also feels like I'm missing a cylinder on startups. Oh yeah it's a manual 4cyl. 2.0 lt. I'm short on cash this month and have not too many mechanic buddies. Any words of wisdom will be appreciated. Or the bird's going to the salvage yard.
Thanx
Jason

[corning_d3]

Slipped timing will cause backfires out the intake. How many miles are on the car? If the timing is good, I'd say it's flooding..

[jmanofktown]

yeah I believe it's flooding as well but it will not start fully in this state unless I give it gas when she turn over. It has 250 000kms on the beast. I also thought it was the timing belt, but I'm so inexperianced, I can't touch much. thanx,
PS I threw my back out at the begining of the yr and have been off work since. So a cheap fix would be best now.

[corning_d3]

Is it carb'd or fuel injected?

[jmanofktown]

fuel injected, but I don't know how to check to see if they're doing what they're supposed to.
Again thanx for your replies.
Jman

[Madcat455]

The injectors are doing what they're supposed to because it does run.. just not all the time. That could be a number of things.

Jumped timing would cause constant problems.. not just temp. related, so I think you can rule that one out.

Bad Injectors will allways be bad, you could run (when it starts again) some injector cleaner through it (store bought brands are OK, but I like pure Acetone... 3 ounces for 10 gal. and only do it once). There are ways to test them but that isn't within the realm of cheap...lol.

Pull the plugs and see how they're looking.. if they look flooded or fine. Might just need new plugs as they can be intermittant, and are very finicky.

Could also be a number of sensors on the ride, but start with the plugs first... that'll tell us where to go from there.

On a side note.... when it blows white smoke, is it only when it's cold outside, or when it's warm too (when it's not normal to see exhaust fumes from every cars tailpipe)?? If it's doing it when it's warm outside, then I'd say your head gasket is going bad... Might want to do a compression test while you've got the plugs out of there (gauge costs around $30 at parts stores). Sunbird 2.0's are KNOWN for Warping heads (espicially if it's ever been ovear heated or run when real warm)... and that'll cause the miss, smoke, rough running, backfire, plus more. But not a cheap fix, so like I said.. take it with the compression test and plugs first.

Les us know.