1999 Pontiac Grand Am Extreemly Rich Starts

Tiny
KIRSCHG
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 75,000 MILES
We very good gas mileage, 25 city 32 highway. It also is very responsive for a 4-cyl, just a touch of the accelerator and your off to the races. The Rich Start problem has been getting slightly worse each year for the past 5 years. When the engine is cold it will start by itself but you can smell rich exhaust if the windows are down. When Hot after being off for 10 minutes it will not start unless you slowly press down on the accelerator while cranking. Hot or Cold the idle immediately comes down to normal in 5 or less seconds. Recently the problem has been getting worse and now just as it starts there is a large cloud of blue smoke at the exhaust. Oil level does not show any usage yet.
Monday, August 31st, 2009 AT 6:07 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Probable causes could be the coolant temperature sensor, clogged return line and leaking fuel pressure regulator, for the blue smoke could be the valve seals-
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Monday, August 31st, 2009 AT 6:56 PM
Tiny
KIRSCHG
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I disconnected the connecteor from the sensor that is mounted on the Thermostat housing, started and drove the car for a bit. There was no affect to the Rich start. But the transmission shifted very sharply on all Up shifts and the Service Engine Soon light came on after the 2nd Hot start. I reconnected the sensor connector and after the 3rd start the Service Engin Soon light went out.
Is there another Coolant Sensor?
If so Where?
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Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 AT 5:30 PM

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