95 j30 no start/flooding problem-please help

[Benjamin303]

Alright. my names ben. i am a new member. i found this site when i googled why my j30 wouldnt start. the info i found here was valuble. i got it started. i learned from another post that if i hold the gas peddal down and crank for like 10 -20 seconds it would start. (would have posted ther but it was locked)
but i suspect flooding/ leaky injectors?

so i need any help you experts can give. i am new to the j30 but i love this car.

95 j30 180,xxx
bought it last year. had to park it for six months because i lost my liscense. the batery died, got new one. power steering went out, put in new pump. changed the oil. topped off other fluids. i put in lucas fuel system cleaner. and replaced the two recirculation tubes(cracked) on top front of the engine.(the both had wire pipecleaner jamed in them like a filter? duno what that is)
it was running ok for like 4-5 months (have no other j to compare to) but about a week ago i was driving. came home. then the next day it wouldnt start? i tried a few times but didnt want to kill my batt. it was cranking. i smelld gas bad so i looked. an my lines wher leaking. tightend the screws an it stoped. but still wouldnt start.
i reaseached and found on this site. that holding the gas peddal down clears the cylinders an i also read to keeep cranking. so i did, an the j30 roared to life!. almost died..but still ran. i started it 3 more times just to see..and it did. the next day it started fine. and i parked it in a place to work on it.
it starts an runs just dosent run right i can tell.

OK. so now that you have the long back story. my question IS. what do you guys think the problem is? has anyone else gone through this? my ideas are injectors/seals? i know the j30's engine is a special engine. and i want it to run the best it can. suggestions?

any and all input would be apriciated. i dont want my wife driving it around until i know it wont strand her alone with the baby.


other symptoms/misc details
fast and responsive when engine is cold. slow and sluggish when warmed up
smell of gas in cabin and engine area
somtimes i hav to really push the gas to get it do downshift and accelrate.
while peddal is in fixed position cars acceleration surges slightly
after engine is warmed up it is pretty slow from a dead stop.
the front struts are trashed. but new ones are 500$ each?! just havent gone to junkyard yet.
its using oil sumhow. was full. now half. not leaking forsure. or smoking exhaust (except for some white smoke when flooded)
always use premium.

im sure im forgeting something..
anyway. my next step is to ohm test my injectors?.. or what should i do?

thanks Ben.

[fourdrinie]

Replace MAF with a known good one
Struts from a junkyard will probably be just as bad. If u plan to keep the car, bite the bullet.

Ohm the injectors is a good next step, will probably give you a good idea.

[Benjamin303]

i will try. and yes i want to keep my j. but 1000 for struts. and the current problems. mqke this car very expensive suddenly. but i like it alot. i dont kno what to do. thanks tho

[fourdrinie]

sorry, but this is a very expensive car to keep up, especially at your mileage when "everything" seems to go...watch for fuel pump problems at this age as well...
if you dont have a good amount of money to keep this car going...you might want to look for a cheaper alternative