Saab: 1989 Saab has hard starting problem, head gasket problem, distributer cap

Question
Hi I have a 89 saab that has a hard starting problem 99% of the problem.  When the car sits for more than 30 mins it starts hard.  When i say starting hard I mean that you have to give the car gas to start it.  Being that the car is fuel injected I dont know why this happens.  Also when started you get some white smoke coming out the tail pipe.  The car sort of starts like a carbureted engine thats flooded.  the spark plugs are not wet after sitting over night so that means that the injectors are not leaking after sitting.  Distributer cap needs is a little worn but no problems after running.  Is it possible that the fuel system is loosing pressure after sitting.  Or could this be a problem with a head gasket where water is seeping into the cylinders after shut off when sitting.  What do you think?

Answer
Shawn:
 I agree with both your suppositions regarding the possible hard starting problem. A few tests as follows may help clarify:
 a. Spray some starting fluid in the intake area just before starting; If it starts immediately,that will confirm that it is fuel supply related, but does not exclude a possible head gasket problem.
  b. When running, are there bubbles in the coolant as looking down into the coolant tank?  If so, its a head gasket problem for certain.
  c. After running the engine, turn it off and wait an hour or so, then loosen any primary fuel line fitting...if there is a short squirt of fuel, that verifies that system pressure is being held. (BE VERY CAREFUL DOING THIS!!)
  d. If there is still a question of residual fuel pressure retention, energize the pump directly by running a jumper from fuse terminal no. 30 (outboard end(fender side)) to fuse terminal no. 27 (inboard end)(engine side). The fuses should be removed. This bypasses the fuel pump relay, and pressurizes the line for certain.
  e. Has the coolant water level been constant, or do you need to add periodically? Nowadays, the water system stop leak additives actually work! On my '89, I never fully tighten the coolant water tank cover, thus not building up pressure which avoids any water leakage; this only works if the radiator is working efficiently, other you may get an overheating situation.

    The above are some thoughts to ponder...sorry I cannot be more definitive inasmuch as there are multiple possible causes as you probably well know.

                                 Hope this helps,
                                         Jerry