Expert: Roland Finston - 12/7/2011

Question
Hi Roland - glad to find your site here.  Been struggling with 98 Cirrus and have read many complaints similar to mine.  I have been told that that problem could be Cam/Crank Sensor, and also that that problem could be the ECM.  However, I have not read where anyone has mentioned the car not starting when it rains - especially after a hard rain.  Usually it starts with no problem a day after the rain stops.  The last time this happened the car sat for about 2 weeks, and then started right up (guess after it dried out).  I do have the problem that everyone else is talking about - shortly after starting, and sometimes after driving about 3 miles, the car starts a very, very rough idle.  After about 20 min or a half hour of sitting while idleing, the rough idle stops and the car runs like it is new. Mileage 160K.  Last year put in new catalytic converter, O2 sensor, new plugs and wires, cap & rotor.  Heavy white smoke at idle; clears after take-off.  Speaking with mechanic, this problem may not be related to other problem.  If you think otherwise - please chime-in.  If not related I can work on that problem as a separate issue.  Main concern now is with determining if a new cam/crank sensor, or ECM is/are needed.  Also, any suggestions on why I have the problem with car not starting after a rain.  

Thank you for your assistance.

Answer
Hi Mary,
The wet start problem may be due to worn out insulation on the spark plug wire causing an arcing of the spark current to a nearby ground.  But you changed the wires. Nonetheless, take a look under the hood on a dark night while the engine is running and it is damp to see if you see any sparking going on along all the spark wires.
On the rough idle early on and later, I would check the egr valve's stem to make sure it is moving freely back and forth and to a dead stop at the closed position via the internal spring action. The stem has a slot into which the tip of a screwdriver to allow you to then move it. If it is sticy then spray some WD-40 on the stem where it enters the body of the valve and work it backa and forth. It located near the front rear corner of the engine, below the coolant down-pipe and is horizontal. It is in a small exhaust pipe that curves around from the front exhaust manifold.
The heavy white smoke, if accompanied by a slow loss of coolant may well be indicative of a head gasket leak. You can stop at a radiator shop and ask for a test of the vapors in the cooling system to see if they detect any exhaust gas or not. I assume you don't see any puddles of coolant or milky color in the oil on the dipstick which are also signs of such a leak.
Also, get a free fault code readout at a nationwide auto parts store such as Autozone. If you get and 0320 or 0340 that would confirm a crank or cam sensor problem, respectively.  A code in the 0601-5 or so would point toward an ecm issue.
Let me know what you find on any of these suggestions and we can go further.
Roland