I have a 95 TA that suddenly started taking a long time to start. Normally it fires right up but I now have to crank it for about 20 to 30 seconds when the engine is cold and 5 to 10 seconds when the engine is up to temp. I've checked fuel pressure (43 KOEO, 36 after pump cycles) and no gas in vacuum line to regulator. Holds pressure once shut off. It has spark. No codes. Runs and drives like normal after it starts. Plugs didn't look too bad. Have maybe 30,000 miles on them. Any other ideas what to check? Thanks

 

My guess is your coolant temp sensor is bad on your water pump. If this goes bad (will not set check engine light) causes the pcm to send too much fuel or not enough in cold or hot condition. Hence long starting conditions.

I would get a scan tool on the car and check to see what the pcm is seeing for coolant temp reading. The one on the dash is separate and does not go to the pcm.

 

I'm thinking there should be some sort of parameters the sensor should fall within before going into open loop?

 

Sorry forgot to mention I had it on the scanner and the temp was reading pretty consistent to what the dash was showing.

 

What injectors does it have?

 

Stock reconditioned ones with about 40,000 miles on them.

 

Did the issue start before or after these were installed? Usually hard starting is weak ignition, fuel or both. Any sputtering or backfiring?

 

I put the injectors in about 40,000 miles ago. The hard starting began out of nowhere. Drove to work and went to start it in the morning to go home and just cranked and cranked for a while before it finally started. It sputters a little bit sometimes when trying to start. When it starts running it will fast idle around 1300 then come down slowly to around 800 and run completely normal. The last thing I did was put in new O2 sensors a few months ago. Sometimes I can smell fuel after cranking the engine for a bit. I haven't driven it anywhere since I drove it home from work the other day. Just been messing with it trying to find the problem whenever I get a chance.

 

Have you checked the plugs? could be as simple as that, since you smell fuel, plugs could be a little carbon fouled, this too will cause excessive cranking before a start.

 

Thanks I wondered if that would do it. I pulled a few and they didn't look too bad but I guess that's a good place to start.

 

while there is really no way of testing it....I have found the ICM plays more havoc than just failing when hot or not starting at all once engine warms up. I replaced several ignition parts after confirming fuel pressure because my symptoms, like yours, were not the typical ICM fail ones.

Only really way to know if this is causing your issue would be to swap it if you have a spare.

also on the temp sensor on WP...this chart, courtesy of shbox.com, shows what resistance=temp chart to see if it is within spec. testing it cold and engine hot would be better

http://shbox.com/1/4th_gen_tech2.html#ect

 

Hey guys had a rough few weeks. Finally got the plugs changed today with no change. It won't start at all. Just crank and sputter. I don't have a spare ICM but I'll go pick up another one to try.

 

Did you first DVM the temp sensor on front of WP?

simple to rule that in/out

 

No haven't yet I'll give it a shot.

 

Im having the same issue, but I suspect my damn check valve in the FP is bad. Cant just buy the sending unit either. So if that ends up being the problem Ill have to buy a new pump just to switch my Walbro 255lph over. I haven't diagnosed it yet, but if I let the FP prime until it shuts off after the cars been sitting for a while she'll fire right up after maybe one or two cranks. If I hop in an turn the key over shell crank 5-6 times until she wants/tries to start...so my guess is bad check valve. Let us know if you locate your problem. I need to get some more dang free time so I can locate my issue.

 

Coolant temp sensor tested good. Replaced icm and still no start. Checked spark and still good.

 

Is it a "No Start" or "Hard Start'? As I mentioned I have been having a Hard start issue, Bought a new FP. Swapped in my Walbro 255lph pump and haven't had an issue since.

 

so you have no spark?

 

Initially it was a hard to start. Drove it home from work and now it won't start at all. It cranks over fine and sputters a little. It had spark before and still does. Everything seems OK ignition wise. Ohm'd the coil and it was good.

 

If you have fuel and spark, it should light off. You have spark at the plugs? Or where did you check for spark? Plugs dry? Gap right?

Have you checked to see if your injectors are spraying fuel? Pop the rail off and check. Fuel filter new?

Mike