Hard Starting?

[ahuster]

My 93 MTX seems to crank for several seconds before starting. I just changed the plugs and wires with the recommended motorcraft parts, and changed the fuel filter. I also scanned the codes and came up empty. It always starts and runs fine it just cranks for 3 to 5 seconds before it fires up. Any suggestions?

 

[Machspeed]

Both me and my friends shos do the same thing. Check your battery and battery cables. Does it crank slow or normal?

 

[Gloffer]

This happened to me and the good news was that the diagnosis was a bad check valve in the fuel pump discharge. So, what happens is that after you stop the car the fuel in the lines drains back to the tank. The bad news is that this necessitates replacing the fuel pump and all that entails.

You can check this yourself by turning your key to the position just before the engine starts, this starts the fuel pump. Wait a few seconds for the fuel lines to re-pressurize, and then start your SHO. If it starts immediately, then the fuel pump discharge check valve is the problem.

If you can live with it, then no further action is necessary, if not, then maybe it's time for that new 190 lph fuel pump.

 

[Bizzy]

thats exactly the symptoms as to what mine is doing too. I've got to replace the sender in the tank too, so I'm gonna upgrade to a 190lph pump and **** 2 birds with one stone.

On a positive note though, the longer it takes to start the more oil is pumped "pre-oiling" the engine at very low RPM's. More lubrication at startup is never a bad thing. hmmm that just sounds a little wierd now that I reread it