Gas engine starts then stalls after a few minutes of running and then will not start again. Carb smells of gas. Seems flooded. Replaced coil without improvement. Been in the shop 3 times, each time tuned up and runs well for 1-2 days then same problem. Holley carb, I have not tried to adjust myself. Lots of smog stuff on it in CA. Cannot use the truck regularly until this is fixed. Thanks.

If you smel gas/petrol it is flooding
see link belwo for information on engine flooding

make sure all filter r clean or new

It is flooded. Sometimes difficult to start afterward

if this is the case you have to floorboard the gas pedal - which floods the carb more so and keep it there for two minutes. Then try starting it. If and when it starts - ease off the gas or blow the engine.

it sounds like the timing chain jumped or is worn out.

89 cierra? It should be DIS ignition so you can't have the timing too high. You said it has fuel and spark. Fuel pressure and injection pulse. Does it try to start if you spray carb cleaner into it?

Turning fast generally points to a failed timing chain. Check engine compression and that distributor turns without stuttering while it's cranking.
If that checks out, and there is no spark, check the ignition module and wiring on the pickup coil under the plate in the distributor. There is no valid test on module...If everything appears normal, just replace it.

It should not smell like gas unless the engine is REALLY flooded. But todays computer controlled cars won't allow that. I think you have a fuel leak somewhere.

maybe your iac valve is not working? it takes place of a choke or temp sender to computer could be bad which controls t I.A.C. known as the idle control valve,do you have any codes?

You are on the right path. You gave away the answer when you said you can dry the plugs and then it will start and run for a few seconds before flooding out again.

To solve the problem (there seem to be two of them) do the following:

You need to stop fuel from entering the engine, either disconnect the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump or route the output from the fuel pump to a gas can or back to the tank, just don't let it get to the carb.

Pull the coil wire, pull the plugs and spin the motor over so it can get dried out.
Pulling the coil wire should help reduce the risk of the fuel being blown from the cylinders from somehow getting ignited. BE CAREFULL!!!

Now dry the plugs and put them back in, plug in the coil wire and fire it up. Based on what you have said it sounds like it will probably start up (if only for a second or three). Now pour two or three teaspoons of gasoline into the carb and start it again.

If it starts and then dies that is a good thing. Do the two or three teaspoons and start it two or three times. This will heat up the compression chambers a little and help to dry them out a little better.

Now, at this point it runs fine (well as fine a 2 or 3 teaspoons will run it) as long as it has fuel, air and spark.

Hook up the fuel line again and start it up. One of two things will take place.

1. All is well! Great, it was just REALLY flooded.

2. It runs for about 10 seconds before becoming flooded again.... ****, it sounds like your "new" carb is flooding the engine. Find out how!

Good luck. I have used this "fix" a few times over the years. Normally the engine is REALLY, REALLY, REALLY flooded. Usually because the original problem happened on a hot summer day and the float stuck when the engine was shut off. The heat of the engine boiled the gasoline which in turn flooded the engine. The float stayed stuck when they came back to start it and TA DA.

Several times a little tap on the side of the carb "cured" the problem and a fuel additive was used to clean up the sticky float issue.

In one instance the 4 banger was so flooded we had to snake a hose into the cylinders and **** the fuel out. We must have sucked a quart of fuel out of that little '80 Mustang. We still ended up draining the oil (it smelled like it was full of fuel too) and we spun it over until it quit spraying gasoline all over. Man was that a mess!!!

check fuel filter and plugs/plugwires