long cranking when starting cold engine

[fred79]

I don't know if its just the cold pennsyvania weather or some thing i should look into but it has been taking more cranks to get the car started. it seems like if I crank it and let it go then crank again it starts right up. do you all think this is normal or could it be a dirty fuel filter. this is my first year with my 95 mtx

<small>[ November 06, 2002, 08:58 AM: Message edited by: fred79 ]</small>

 

[projectSHO89]

Fuel filter would be my first guess.

Cheap, not too difficult, but messy.

Steve

 

[Slo-Sho]

My cause was a bad fuel pump. Not something I want to do again.

 

[sdpatt]

Try turning the ignition key to ON, but not starting the engine, for the 1.5 seconds that the fuel pump runs to get the fuel system pressure up to the required value. Then turn the key OFF and immediately back to START. If this helps the engine start up on the first crank, then you have a low fuel pressure situation. The first thing to check is the fuel filter. If that doesn't help, then you will need to replace the fuel pump. The car is losing the fuel system pressure by a leaking discharge check valve that is internal to the fuel pump if the above check helps the engine start more quickly.