went to start my car and it wouldnt start. It turns over and sounds like its about to start, but doesnt. I thought maybe it was flooded and went through the steps, but no go. When I put the gas to the floor and turn the engine, it sounds like its going to start, and I keep turning it and it keeps sounding like its going to start, but never does. At the same time a little white smoke comes out the exhaust. I thought maybe a bad fuel filter, but why would there be white smoke coming out the back then? And I can smell a little fuel too.

 

the white smoke is coolant. probably a coolant seal gone !

justa thought

 

Sometimes the car floods badly and it's very hard to get it running again. Take one of your spark plugs out and see if it's drenched in fuel. If it is, dry it out and do the same for the rest. Is your car turbo or non turbo? If its non turbo, disconnect the Fattest and biggest vacuum line, facing the front of the car, from the top intake manifold. There should be 3vacuum lines total (2 small ones and a BIG one). Once you disconnected the biggest line of the 3, put some motor oil or automatic tranny fluid into that fat hose. I used a small syringe to squirt oil into the line. Re-connect the hose and let it sit for a 2-3minutes. Hold the accel. pedal all the way down and try starting your car. The oil should help build compression and get the car running. You can also squirt some oil into the engine while you have the spark plugs out. Either method works.

To see if your coolant seals are going, remove the radiator cap and try starting the car. If coolant starts shooting out while cranking, chances are your coolant seals are dying.

 

does this not sound like the fuel filter is bad? What are the symptoms of a bad fuel filter?

 

Bad fuel filter = clogged up and NOT letting ENOUGH fuel into the engine. Flooding is TOO MUCH fuel. You can try and change the fuel filter just to see if that helps but I would try to start the car the way I told you first. That way you dont spend $30 bux just to find out it wasnt the problem. Although, changing the filter isnt a bad idea if its still the original one