starting issues

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slimsho2469

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ok guys and gals, heres my next issue... every time i go out to start my cold car it will crank for like 10 seconds before it fires, but when it finally does its like its puking out the tailpipe cause it hovers around 4-5-6 hundred rpm range for maybe 3-4-5 seconds then runs fine at normal 1500 rpm when cold. after its warmed up it idles regularly at around 900 and if its warm it will fire right up. any ideas as to why my cars feelin sick?
 

Green Sho

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my car is doin the same thing....and I just pulled codes for an O2 sensor and fuel pump. I also think the cats might be bad.
 

slimsho2469

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im thinkin my cats ar bad, i just got new o2's like 2 months ago, new wires, plugs, vss, and i did think i could hear my fuel pump whining a little lately
 

projectSHO89

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Buy a fuel pressure guage.

Measure your pressure leakdown and see how long it takes for the pressure to get to 40 psi when you try starting.

Neither O2 sensors or cats will cause delayed starting, fuel pressure that has leaked down will....

Steve
 

slimsho2469

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could i possibly diagnose this by turning the key and letting it build some pressure before i actually start it, similar to a deisel?
 

ohfosho

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yes turn the key to 'on' for a few seconds (listen for the fuel pump to stop), then turn the key back off repeat about 3 times and then start the car. if it starts great, or at least many times better, then the fuel pump is considerably weak.
 

dstig1

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Sure sounds like losing fuel pressure (do the key on-off a couple times as suggested to prove it), but I suspect the cause of the leakdown is a leaking fuel injector. Sure sounds like it is running rich on startup as you said: "puking out the tailpipe", which would point me to an excess of fuel in a cylinder or two...like from an injector that leaks fuel into the manifold when shut down. If I misread what you meant by that, then it could be fuel pressure regulator or check valve, but the focus is on losing fuel pressure after shutdown.
 

slimsho2469

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what uve just said makes ALOT of sense, is there any way i can check the cylinders for fuel? or how would i know about the injectors, aslo would this cause poor gas mileage?
 

dstig1

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Honestly, I haven't had to prove it yet, it just makes sense based on what you described (only 2 real places pressure can leakdown from - regulator/check valve or out the injectors). My guess for proving which cylinder might be to let the car sit long enough (overnight?), and pull each spark plug to check for which one(s) are wet with fuel and if you can get a fiber optic light in the spark plug hole, maybe you can see wetness in one that you don't see in the others. It might need to be cranked first to get the fuel more into the cylinder, so disconnecting the DIS and cranking for only a second or two might do the trick. Short of pulling each injector to get them tested, I don't know how else I'd go about proving it. Try it the first way and then try the second if the first shows you nothing.

Perhaps even a top-end cleaner or FI cleaner may help, if it's just dirt lodged in there. Easy stuff first, as usual.

Anyone got a better idea on pinpointing? Perhaps the Helms has a procedure, but I can't look right now.

I wouldn't think this would have a huge impact on mileage unless the injector is really screwed up, but I'd think you would see rough running then. In which case the KOER test may show you something.
 

slimsho2469

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well plans have changed, im going to wait it out and see what happens here cause im looking into a 3.2 and full parts car for my every need, lol
 

slimsho2469

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the few times i tried it it did start right up but it doesnt do it all the time so ive also just come out and not done it and its fired right up so im not sure but im looking into possibilities of a whole motor swap or just a tranny swap if possibly since the atx i can get is much cleaner
 

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