Hard starting (Page 1/3)
alecbeard FEB 26, 09:24 AM
I'm having a hard start problem. Usually when cold it fires right up. But when warm, I have to turn it over for a a good 10 seconds before it finally catches. Any ideas?

'88 Formula, 6 cyl, manual
Gall757 FEB 26, 09:47 AM
The injectors may be leaking. Too much fuel gets into the cylinders just after you turn off a hot engine. After a while the fuel evaporates and starting is normal again. You can test for this by checking fuel pressure. It should stay up for a few minutes when the engine is turned off.
alecbeard FEB 26, 09:48 AM
Thanks for responding. If they are bad, does that mean I need news ones? Or maybe just o-rings?

[This message has been edited by alecbeard (edited 02-26-2018).]

Gall757 FEB 26, 10:16 AM
If your fuel pressure drops off quickly, they need cleaning. The best way is to remove them and send them to a pro cleaning service. You can also take the car to a repair shop that has some powerful stuff that they use for cleaning injectors. The least effective way is to add liquid injector cleaner to your fuel. You can buy it at Auto parts stores. It may take some time for this last method to work.
thejimbud APR 16, 04:24 PM
I had a similar issue, when you turn the key to the on position, do you hear your fuel pump prime? If not, check the relay behind the drivers window on the firewall. Mine starts immediately after finding out my relay wasn't working. Turns out after long cranking the oil pressure builds enough and the oil pump activates the fuel pump as a backup if the main relay has failed.
fierobug JUL 14, 08:38 AM
Hello alecbeard!

I have the exact problem you describe. Did you find a solution? I think I have to pull injectors out to find out if that is the problem. Hoping not problem. Anyways hope it is running better for you. Thanks

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RudyGT JUL 14, 10:13 AM
im in the same boat, i've been meaning to let the fuel pump prime for the full 2 seconds before i turn the ignition but keep forgetting
my fuel rail has 45 psi, but it does leak down i think 5-10 minutes it lost 5 psi.
and when i first hooked up to it it was at 0 so it leaks all the way out for sure.
if you want to test things, you can buy a cheap switch to toggle the fuel pump test in your ALDL connector.
or can one anymore? cause radio shack doesnt exist...
i should take some of my own advice
fierosound JUL 14, 10:47 AM

quote
Originally posted by RudyGT:

my fuel rail has 45 psi, but it does leak down i think 5-10 minutes it lost 5 psi.
and when i first hooked up to it it was at 0 so it leaks all the way out for sure.



This is perfectly normal. If your fuel pressure dropped to Zero in a few minutes - then there may be a problem.
There is no check valve in the system, so the pressure normally dissipates back through the pump.



quote
Originally posted by thejimbud:

I had a similar issue, when you turn the key to the on position, do you hear your fuel pump prime? If not, check the relay behind the drivers window on the firewall. Mine starts immediately after finding out my relay wasn't working. Turns out after long cranking the oil pressure builds enough and the oil pump activates the fuel pump as a backup if the main relay has failed.



This is the most likely cause based on his symptoms.
When oil is cold he has immediate high oil pressure.
When oil is hot, it takes some cranking for it to build up pressure.




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[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 07-14-2018).]

fierobug JUL 14, 11:13 AM
fierosound
The pressure holds well at 42psi for at least 1/2 hour and slowly falls. I hear the relay click with ignition on fuel pump 2 sec run. Possible the relay is not working when hot or malfunctioning sometimes and I don't hear it? When I unplug vacuum line on fuel pressure regulator pressure increases. Which is good. Many people keep pointing to fuel injectors. Any ideas? Hate to rip it apart and the MONEY for injectors tested. Love the car but one thing after another.

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FIEROBUG!!!!!!!!!!

Gall757 JUL 14, 12:03 PM
You may hear the relay click, but do you hear the fuel pump running? You should.