I have a Kia sorento 2003, so 3 months ago the car was running fine. My dad did a valve cover gasket replacement on it since it was leaking oil. He replaced the valve cover gasket and left the intake manifold off for like a 4 weeks with the hood closed. Ended up doing the job 4 weeks later and it crunk and turned back off. Then just stopped working on it and put it on the side of the street for two months. Then he gave it to me and now I’m trying to resolve the issues, the car catalytic converter was stolen. But it should still start without one in my experiences. I tried cranking when I first got it and it just cranked sounding like it wants to start and smoke coming out of the exhaust. backfires every now and again when your cranking the smoke smells like gas and sometimes smells like gas but not as strong.
So what I’ve done: Cleaned the spark plugs and reused them. Air filter was filthy I took it out and tried to start it without it and still the same problems. Redid my fathers work to make sure he didn’t miss anything still the same problem. Fuel pump only comes on when you try to start the car but not in acc.