Pontiac Repair: 97 pontiac sunfire, spark plug wires, pontiac sunfire

Question
QUESTION: my 97 pontiac sunfire is running rough when I first start it up and take off. I also smell fumes. Once I get going and the car seems warmed up it runs better.

ANSWER: Hi Sue:

well it can be a lot of things. It can be either a fuel delivery issue or a spark problem. Has and service engine soon lamp come on or is it flashing? what type of fuel ar you running in this car use only 87 octane fuel. You could have something like a coolant temp sensor that is giving the wrong signal to the engine computer and the fuel delivery is to much and causing ti to chug cold and that could explain the "smell" You could have a bad set of spark plug wires and when it's cool and damp in the AM the wires are arching and causing a misfire condition. Those are a few ideas to start with. goo luck :)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, my service engine lamp has come on and has been flashing, until I get driving a bit and it seems to correct itself and run alittle more smoothly. Does that indicate a specific problem?

Answer
Yes it does. it meas the engine is misfiring and in the long term it will cause damage to the catalitic converter for the engine which is a BIG dollar repair to fix if you don't get the root cause repaired it will be added to the price of the misfire condition. I would lean more towards a spark plug/sparl plug wire issue more so then anything else. good luck :)