Starting Issues, Engine is cranking and sometimes firing (when cold) Options

[PolliS_5S-FE]

Hi guys. Just wondering if anyone can help shed some light on the subject.

94 'gt has done 250,000kms. Lately it has been really hard to start after its been sitting for a while, usually overnight. The coil, spark plugs, dizzy cap and rotor i just replaced.

What happens is i'll turn the key, engine cranks then nothing. cranks again revs go to 100 - 200 for half a sec then stops, crank again nothing, crank again engine will run very rough at between 300 - 800 revs for about 3 to 5 secs then either come to life and run sweet or die again (but will start properly the next time I crank) i've put some injector cleaner through and theres no fuel that I can see sitting in the spark plug wells, so i'm thinking fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator...?? The only thing that leads me to not thinking its the fuel pump is that it runs fine after the hard start.

[PolliS_5S-FE]

any ideas??

[mkernz22]

maybe your running to thick of an oil or the gas freezes

[rave2n]

Check your timing, which in turn sounds like a distributor problem.

[Remy]

Jump fp and b+ at the diagnostic terminal port before starting the car and see if you have fuel pressure in the fuel lines around the fuel filter if your really in doubt get a fuel gauge and have your fuel pressure measured it'll tell how many psi your pump is putting out.

[PolliS_5S-FE]

Thanks for the replies, its definatly not fuel freezing, its summer here in nz now, really humid. The oil is the same as i've always used, 15w 40. My timing is the same as its always been, so i dont think that but ill look into it. How can i tell if theres fuel pressure without having a pressure gauge? Could it be fuel filter? or would it run sht all the time if it was

[Remy]

Jump fp and b+ at the diagnostic terminal port before starting the car and see if you have fuel pressure in the fuel lines around the fuel filter if your really in doubt get a fuel gauge and have your fuel pressure measured it'll tell how many psi your pump is putting out.

-For safety reasons don't start the car while the terminals are bridged.

15w40 is pretty thick though I wouldn't run anything higher then 10w30 on a 5sfe unless I have major leaks and its really really REALLY warm/hot out.

[PolliS_5S-FE]

its really strange, when its stuttering after a cold startup (when it finally does) theres no throttle reponse until it runs properly, after the 3 - 5 secs that its stuttering

[PolliS_5S-FE]

a slight erratic idle at first too, jumping between 800rpm and 1100 until warmed up.

[PolliS_5S-FE]

and carbon fouled spark plugs... and bad fuel mileage

This post has been edited by PolliS_5S-FE: Dec 22, 2010 - 9:29 PM

[xrav22]

and carbon fouled spark plugs... and bad fuel mileage

Make sure to check cold start sensor it is next to the temp sensor on the engine and it gets corroded and cracks my car would only start when I wiggled the wires until I found the problem