[S. Harris]

I had similar starting problems with my '86 GTV6 (in the 80's when I owned it). It would be a little hard to start after sitting for a few weeks and then when I tried to start it I would give into the temptation of giving it gas with the pedal. Well, I compounded the problem by doing this. The cylinders and heads became quickly flooded in gas and stayed that way. They wouldn't dry off and I didn't realize this was the problem until an Alfa Mechanic showed me and said this was typical. His advice: don't touch the throttle when starting, it should have enough gas with the injectors -- and don't let it sit for more than a week without starting it.