Hard to start

[danmn1313]

I haven't driven the SHO in a while because I haven't had my license now it takes about 3 hard cranks to start it when it's cold. When it's only been sitting for an hour or so it starts first crank. After it's running, it runs strong.

I searched and found a thread with someone who had a similar problem but they never gave an answer for what fixed it. I'm thinking its fuel pump related but not sure, don't want to buy one and have it do the same thing it's doing now.

The other thing I noticed is that my volts gauge is reading a little lower than it did before. It was usually at 14.4 but now is steady at 13.9. I know the alternators can be a pain on the cars but this one worked great for the year I've had the car and the PO said he had just replaced it about 6 months before I bought it so that would make the alternator about 16 months old.

What should I be looking for as the culprit?

 

[zach44102]

could be a possible pin hole leak say at the FPR. After it sits for a period of time fuel pressure drops low or to zero and while cranking fuel pressure builds up and it starts... Just a idea.

 

[PrestonsSHO]

check the fuel filter(change it if you got it off as well cant hurt)... a mostly clogged filter would definately restrict the fuel pressure from ramping up as quick as it needs as well the flow..... just a thought

 

[BamSHO]

I just turn the car to on for a second or two before starting. Been doing that for years on all my cars. Seems to work for me.



Brian Michael
98 silver Gen3

 

[alecracing]

I haven't driven the SHO in a while because I haven't had my license now it takes about 3 hard cranks to start it when it's cold. When it's only been sitting for an hour or so it starts first crank. After it's running, it runs strong.

I searched and found a thread with someone who had a similar problem but they never gave an answer for what fixed it. I'm thinking its fuel pump related but not sure, don't want to buy one and have it do the same thing it's doing now.

The other thing I noticed is that my volts gauge is reading a little lower than it did before. It was usually at 14.4 but now is steady at 13.9. I know the alternators can be a pain on the cars but this one worked great for the year I've had the car and the PO said he had just replaced it about 6 months before I bought it so that would make the alternator about 16 months old.

What should I be looking for as the culprit?

Fuel pump could be leaking down. there is a check valve in the fuel pump that is supposed to keep pressure in the system when vehicle is turned off that goes bad. could also be fuel pressure regulator. You need to put a fuel presssure guage on it and see if pressure bleeds down when it sits. If you don't have a fuel pressure guage, hold in shrader valve while someone turns key on, you should have fuel squirt out immediately

could be a possible pin hole leak say at the FPR. After it sits for a period of time fuel pressure drops low or to zero and while cranking fuel pressure builds up and it starts... Just a idea.

yup.

check the fuel filter(change it if you got it off as well cant hurt)... a mostly clogged filter would definately restrict the fuel pressure from ramping up as quick as it needs as well the flow..... just a thought

if fuel filter was clogged it should hurt the performance while running. Lean on the top end