# 96 Pontiac sunfire wont start sometimes white smoke from intake/ throttle body

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-pontiac-sunfire-wont-start-sometimes-white-smoke-from-intake-throttle-body/149048>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** pontiac, sunfire\
**Created:** [September 18, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-pontiac-sunfire-wont-start-sometimes-white-smoke-from-intake-throttle-body/149048 "2019-09-18T23:00:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cris\_Ello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cris\_Ello](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cris_Ello)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-pontiac-sunfire-wont-start-sometimes-white-smoke-from-intake-throttle-body/149048/1 "2019-09-18T23:00:29Z")

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I have a 96 Pontiac sunfire 2.4 L when i go to start it sometimes it will crank right up other times it turns over but wont catch and lately there’s been white smoke coming from intake

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-pontiac-sunfire-wont-start-sometimes-white-smoke-from-intake-throttle-body/149048/2 "2019-09-18T23:17:25Z")

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The timing chain/guides may be worn.

[https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=4571754&cc=1261279&jsn=428&\_nck=ZExt1ysfqhqWnq%2BEvUNdS3Txyey60IDtnjPWF5UU9J0BWQv7pvqZbkEUk86%2BAYIh%2F8vGRbRbhjtkGRmYpCCfU%2B%2FfYl7Y2HISf%2BYEplriYgFTQSY2TvgPKcw53ViECYG7Y7hexfugeRdycdSnCqU7PyQckOaMGiZOk8%2BUHCMG8id6dLL3OiS%2Fj2SPR4tZWvmcroMojN%2Bgk0cfMrZW45ti2LJWPaxXV4W6%2B70kC%2By4UVpeghNa3%2B%2F7wU6k2X87K3%2Bqrd3eJrAdQBN8Qh0Uggc2MQQ0omfROYOhcEtslREnUJUxvN9orzVCfuPCs9qqL2L5OOrWECHeHQH%2FU1orqcM2TBIbwbaSi4RH&jsn=428&\_nck=ZExt1ysfqhqWnq%2BEvUNdS3Txyey60IDtnjPWF5UU9J0BWQv7pvqZbkEUk86%2BAYIh%2F8vGRbRbhjtkGRmYpCCfU%2B%2FfYl7Y2HISf%2BYEplriYgFTQSY2TvgPKcw53ViECYG7Y7hexfugeRdycdSnCqU7PyQckOaMGiZOk8%2BUHCMG8id6dLL3OiS%2Fj2SPR4tZWvmcroMojN%2Bgk0cfMrZW45ti2LJWPaxXV4W6%2B70kC%2By4UVpeghNa3%2B%2F7wU6k2X87K3%2Bqrd3eJrAdQBN8Qh0Uggc2MQQ0omfROYOhcEtslREnUJUxvN9orzVCfuPCs9qqL2L5OOrWECHeHQH%2FU1orqcM2TBIbwbaSi4RH](https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=4571754&cc=1261279&jsn=428&_nck=ZExt1ysfqhqWnq%2BEvUNdS3Txyey60IDtnjPWF5UU9J0BWQv7pvqZbkEUk86%2BAYIh%2F8vGRbRbhjtkGRmYpCCfU%2B%2FfYl7Y2HISf%2BYEplriYgFTQSY2TvgPKcw53ViECYG7Y7hexfugeRdycdSnCqU7PyQckOaMGiZOk8%2BUHCMG8id6dLL3OiS%2Fj2SPR4tZWvmcroMojN%2Bgk0cfMrZW45ti2LJWPaxXV4W6%2B70kC%2By4UVpeghNa3%2B%2F7wU6k2X87K3%2Bqrd3eJrAdQBN8Qh0Uggc2MQQ0omfROYOhcEtslREnUJUxvN9orzVCfuPCs9qqL2L5OOrWECHeHQH%2FU1orqcM2TBIbwbaSi4RH&jsn=428&_nck=ZExt1ysfqhqWnq%2BEvUNdS3Txyey60IDtnjPWF5UU9J0BWQv7pvqZbkEUk86%2BAYIh%2F8vGRbRbhjtkGRmYpCCfU%2B%2FfYl7Y2HISf%2BYEplriYgFTQSY2TvgPKcw53ViECYG7Y7hexfugeRdycdSnCqU7PyQckOaMGiZOk8%2BUHCMG8id6dLL3OiS%2Fj2SPR4tZWvmcroMojN%2Bgk0cfMrZW45ti2LJWPaxXV4W6%2B70kC%2By4UVpeghNa3%2B%2F7wU6k2X87K3%2Bqrd3eJrAdQBN8Qh0Uggc2MQQ0omfROYOhcEtslREnUJUxvN9orzVCfuPCs9qqL2L5OOrWECHeHQH%2FU1orqcM2TBIbwbaSi4RH)

Tester

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cris\_Ello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cris\_Ello](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cris_Ello)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-pontiac-sunfire-wont-start-sometimes-white-smoke-from-intake-throttle-body/149048/3 "2019-09-20T19:12:42Z")

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So how would i go about fixing this myself I purchased a timing light but found out there Is no distributer cap

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/96-pontiac-sunfire-wont-start-sometimes-white-smoke-from-intake-throttle-body/149048/4 "2019-09-20T19:21:32Z")

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You have to remove a valve cover to watch the valve action.

Then get on the crank bolt with a breaker bar and socket.

Turn the engine over by hand in the normal direction.

Then turn the engine over by hand in the opposite direction.

If the crankshaft can be turned 6° or more in the opposite direction before there’s any valve action, the timing chains/guides are worn.

Tester