Does this usually about 2-3 times then starts up and stays running, smells like gas right after starts till burns off.

Has been doing this for last 3 days everytime I try to start it warm or cold. Today cranked for 2 secs or so then started right up and didn't stall 1st time it's started and stayed running in 3 days. But then when i got oof work it stalled twice before stayed running.

What are the possibe causes and what's the likelyhood of a computer diagnostic telling what it is for sure? Thanks in advance for the help.

By the way it has been idling pretty smooth not running crappy or anything and it's a 91 hatch 1.5.

 

Do you have a CEL (the check engine light on your dash?). How bad is the gasoline smell and does it go away completely after driving it (or do you still have a strong smell of gasoline after you've driven it for a while)?

I've never had this happen so it could be:
a gas line leak
coil or wiring connection problem
distributor rotor loose
main relay (but normally only does that when its warm - you noted it did it when it's cold)

 

leaking injectors dump all you left over fuel psi (fuel smell) test psi after engine off if it drops fast i would start there

 

Hi, thanks for replying. Strange but it did this for a few days then stopped. Now I don't know what is going on but starts fine I also gues heat/cold wasn't a factor cause it did it in both. I am unsure of what is up I guess I will have to wait until it starts doing it again but it does seem to have a richer smell to it than it used to and that smell has continued even though the problem is stopped for now.

 

Does it have this problem when it is warm outside? For example, in the garage cold it starts and stays on without problem, but when you are traveling around town on a sunny day it will do this in some store's parking lot?

 

is ur self diagnostic signaling code one??(one flash) if so check your o2 sensor. if thats fine check your fuel prssure regulator with a fuel pressure gauge. if thats fine check for bad electrical connection to the sensor and ecu. i have an 89 si and it does the same thing. i did that test according to the shop manny and found it was the regulator.

 

I used to think it was temperature related but it has done it both hot and cold weather within 3 days it did it when cold started when started again after being driven til warm and only parked for 5 mins. So not temp related issue it seems.

Also I haven't done any of those diagnostic tests as I can't work on the car myself and shops act like unless it does this problem to them they aren't going to be able to diagnose also they claim even if it does it unless it ha engine light won't be able to tell for sure exeryone seems to think either modular distributor or any number of sensors/electrical issues I wish it wasn't so complicated but at least for past 2 weeks has stopped happening and just starts right up. Thanks anyway guys.

 

no problem...if it starts again holla at me i might have done somemore research on it.

 

There is a known problem with the main relay. Your description seems to fit - although not the smelling fuel part. I had the problem and I resoldered two pins in the relay and never had the problem since.