just a couple of questions... whenever i cold start the car it smokes just a little and smells kinda funky, though i'm not sure what to pin the smell too....it goes away and this happens only when i start the car cold (like sitting overnight) one other thing, i've noticed my check engine light came on for a minute and then went off as i was at a stoplight 4 times yesterday, it didn't come on at any time and as soon as i got to going from the stop it eventually went off..... 1981 buick 307-4 cmdr
Well, To answer your first question, the catylitic converter will give off a rotten egg smell when the car is on the choke(from the rich mixture). You might try a different brand of gasoline, that might work. Also check to see if your choke mechanism is working properly. If you haven't sprayed some gumout in and around the carb in awhile, I'd try that too. The check engine light will come on when the computer sees a fault in data from one of the sensors. It sets a code in the computer memory which you can retrieve. Under the dash is a rectangular connector called the Assembly Line Diagnostic Link or ALDL. It has two rows of contacts. If you short the last two contacts on the upper row together(with a wire or paper clip), and turn the ignition switch on(don't start the car), the computer will display the fault codes by flashing the check engine light. Each code will repeat 3 times. The first code you will see will be a 12(one long flash, two short flashes). Code 12 will repeat 2 more times, and then the fault codes will be displayed in numerical order(each code flashed 3 times) When all the codes have been output, you'll see the code 12 again 3 times, then the cycle will repeat. Let us know what you come up with, and we'll try to help. Could be something as simple as an oxygen sensor(13) or TPS (21). Hope that helps.
