NooB Help!! Hot Start Problem

[BoostedPig]

Hi, I have a completly stock set up on my sr all the way down to the smic. It runs very smoothly with only a few issues. First, my coolant resevoir and radiator steam excessivly but takes forever for the car to ever get around overheating range. Sometimes the coolant will be boiling in the resevoir but the car is running at normal temp. However, the bigger problem is the car won't start at all when its hot. Starts fine first try when cold but refuses to start even after I just drive around the block. It sounds almost like its flooding itself, not to mention the gas smell. I have looked around everywhere for a similar thread but could not find my exact problem, but have seen a few closely related. In those I have seen everything from timing to fuel injectors. I really have no clue where to start so any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!!!!

[nothing]

Your radiator/steam issue can be because you have a messed up radiator or you have air in your cooling system. Try bleeding the system. I'm not sure how you can check your radiator but I'm sure someone will chime in. I have no idea why your car wouldn't be starting when its hot. Maybe your car is overheating but your temperature sensor (the one that sends info. to your temperature gauge) is messed up? I'm not sure. Any codes in the ECU?

Where in your car does it smell like gas? In the engine bay or inside the car?

[liquid_cool]

ok...lets start ya off slowly..#1.).first thing you need to check....is there oil in the radiator fluid?...and or do you have smoke out the tail pipe...if no go to step 2...... #2)if number one is not the issue..then start the car and let it get hot with the hood up..and check to make shure your fan(s) are working..if your mechanical..it might be the fan clutch..if your electrical..it could be the temp sensor....if there running/turning well under high heat..then go to step three......#3.) you can flush the radiator out by..draining the fluid..then disconecting the hoses and sticking a garden hose down the radiator on the top side at full pressure..look to see if (muddy) water pours out..if no...and its clean looking...go to step four...#4.) put said hose into top water area of said block..with hoses disconected and run water at full force...if its flowing and clean after a second..thats not the issue and go to step five.....#5.) remove and inspect the water pump/thermostat...if ither look slightly coroded or rusty..replace both..put6 everything back together..and add coolant/water mix..bleed the system of air and run her and see if she gets hot...if you still have an issue....then its possible its ither the head gasket..or an oil issue..get back to us with what ya find.

[BoostedPig]

Well....today, I replaced to radiator cap which seemed to have been obliterated from car almost overheating last night and removed the thermostat which looked ok. I took the car for a short spin, just long enough to warm it up and when I got back there was only a small amount of steam coming from the reservoir and it was still boiling in the reservoir and would over flow out of the vent whenever i would rev it at all. There is no oil in the radiator or coolant in my oil, however when i was adding coolant this afternoon while the car was running, it was foaming a lot...I have never seen this before. I just replaced the water pump and flushed the system not to long ago. My fan, which is mechanical, is running. The only smoke that comes from the exhaust is black smoke from running very rich. Which I had a problem with before but after I changed my spark plugs I thought went away, when I was driving tonight it was backfiring so much it sounded like a freakin machine gun not to mention the two huge fireballs I shot out!! However at higher rpms it runs alot smoother. This is slowly becoming very irritating so I really appreciate yall's help!!

[BoostedPig]

BUmp

[liquid_cool]

the only thing that comes to mind that would do this man...is the headgasket...or you have a cracked block or sumpin...its the only thing it can be..get yourself an oem head gasket..change it and if the issue goes away..you found it..thats the best advice i can think of.

[Azrial]

Sounds like 2 seperate issues to me. The black smoke is probably excess fuel. Tune it out so your not getting as much fuel. It sounds to me like the car is flooding itself out and won't start after you drive it. If it fixed it when you changed plugs you probably fouled them out again and it started acting up again.

The cooling issue sounds to me like something non related to the starting issue. Thermostats always "look ok" You have to test them with boiling water and see if they open at the correct temperature. If you need the exact directions you can find it on autozones website. I would try cleaning the cooling system all out. If your fluid is foaming you may still have some cleaner in there still. It sounds to me like your car is running hotter then what it's saying it is if your spilling fluid out of the overflow. I would check into the sensor or maybe your gauge is bad. What are you mixing your antifreeze/water at?

[BoostedPig]

Thanks for everyones help!! I am pretty certain its my head gasket....being my coolant looks like a freaking latte!! Im replacing it next weekend so now my only worry is a possibly cracked block or warped head!!! Any suggestions of things to do while I have to motor halfway apart would be aprecciated....also, where can I find a service manual??