QuestionThanks for the quick reply but no luck so far. Yesterday I tried turning the iginition on and off 5 times before starting but it didn't make any difference. Today I tried heating the fuel pressure regulator for 5 minutes with a hair dryer but that didn't help. When it was in at GM they tested the fuel pressure and said it was normal.
Could it be possible that the timing is being adjusted incorrectly when it is cold? The backfiring and running bad remind me of what happens when you adjust the timing too far out. The static igition timing is correct but what adjusts the timing on a car when it is cold on a TBI engine?
Thanks again
Paul
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Followup To
Question -
I have an 88 Buick Skyhawk (2.0 TBI OHC, 214,000 km) that has a real starting problem when the temperature is below 10 deg C. Above 10 deg C it will start and run perfect, from 5 to 10 deg it will start with difficulty and when it gets down near or below 0 deg C it's a real challenge. It will need to crank for a minute or 2 before it will catch and then when it does it will buck, surge and backfire until it has warmed up for a few minutes. If you take your foot off the gas it will stall right away. The exhaust smells really rich while this is going on.
I have changed the plugs and wire, rotor and cap and the temp sensor with no luck. I took to the local GM dealer and they admitted it was hard to start but could find nothing wrong with it. No codes were logged and everything they tested was working fine (and they charged me $122 to tell me this). This has been going on since it got colder last fall and I'm really stumped as to where to go next.
Any help would be great.
Thanks
Paul
Answer -
hi paul,i don,t know 122.00 please.lol.no paul it kinda sounds like possibly a bad fuel pressure regulator.when it gets really cold moisture is causeing spring to freeze.try this next time it won,t start.turn key on then off on then off 5 times on 5th time see if car starts right up if so only two things will cause this regulator or weak fuel pump.these are some idea,s good luck please vote for me billymac
Answerhi paul,the ignition timeing on this car is adjusted by the cranksensor and when warm timeing is also adjusted bye a knock sensor.but i think this car has a dist ,so the initial timeing would be adjusted the same manner as the older ones bye turning the dist,however with est system you would need to un plug temp sensor to put the ecm in bypass.then set timeing with light and then shut car off and plug sensor back in.start eng timeing will be set.but i really believe this is a fuel prob.possible injector prob.good luck..billymac
