starting problems, please help!

[Guest]

Hi, i'm glad I found this board, it looks like you guys really know your stuff!!
my problem- first, info on the car, its a 1988 chevy berreta with a 2.0 4cyl auto, just hit 88k org. miles, within last month-new plugs,wires, air filter, new alt. and new water pump, car ran prefect after I unplugged the sensor on the tranny(previous owner sold to me cause bad tranny, he thought). She started right up everytime with no issues UNTIL one day it flooded out right upon starting (1st day it got really cold here,20 degrees or so), it didnt even start, just fouled the plugs, thats when new plugs etc was done, it started ok after that, then sometimes it will take a few cranks, it will start but for about 15-30 seconds its like its running on 3 cyls, then its fine all day no matter how i drive, how many miles or if I start it 25 times, it starts perfect!, if the weather is in the 40's it starts ok or sometimes a little rough, if it goes below 30, it floods right out, I hold the pedal to the floor and crank it, it will start, runs rough,burn off the gas on the plugs, then runs fine all day long! nights when it gets below zero i will start it about midnight, let it run about 15mins, then when i go out about 8am, it will start, a little ruff but it starts, it only is hard to start on the first start of a cold morning after that its starts fine, i'm sorry for being sooo long winded but i wanted to give the best picture i could, its currently my only car and need it badly, please anything you can offer would be outstanding!! thanks, Bill

[Jeff P]

It kind of sounds like your fuel injector might be clogged, which would cause problems in cold weather.  I've never had any luck with the store-bought injector cleaner, but the dealer's cleaner always cleared it right up.  It's expensive to have them do it, though, so you may want to investigate alternatives or other possible problems first.

[Mr Goodwrench]

You could have a bad injector thats leaking over night.  causing cold starting problems with to much fuel in that cylinder.. on a cold start the car adds extra fuel  where on a warm start fuel trim is normal..

Mr Goodwrench

[rweatherford]

IIRC the 88 2.0's are TBI, so there is probably only one injector.  I would agree with testing for a leaky injector.  I would also try to get a scanner on the car and check to see what the ECM says the temperature of the car is when you first start it up.  If the ECM says it's -20F and it is only 30 degrees outside then you have a problem.  The IAT and ECT (Intake Air Temp and Engine Coolant Temp) sensors control the "Choke" programming and also the fuel base fuel control until the engine goes in to closed loop.  Then the ECM monitors the oxygen sensor.  While you have the scanner check for codes etc..

A leaky fuel pressure regulator could cause the same issues, but I'm not sure how the 2.0 is set up.  The TBI system uses much less pressure IIRC.