My friend has a 90 RS with the 5.0L TBI motor. Her car cranks for 5-8 seconds before it will finally start up. I have thought of having her cycle the key back and forth a few times to prime the pump for 2 seconds each time(i believe it turns on for 2 seconds-GM thing right?), and this really works one out of two times. Regardless, of this it never fires right up, has very recent tune-up and there is spark upon cranking. Not sure where else to go with this. I figured that it could be the fuel pressure regulator, but assumed that with cycling the key back and forth that would negate it's impact for fuel pressure bleed down on initial start up. Any suggestions on where to go with this?

 

it may be a bad fuel pump relay. it sounds like the car is waiting for oil presure to start up. the way the car works, when you turn the key to on(not starting it) the fuel pump relay turns the fuel pump on. if this dosnt work the fuel pump wont be on and youll have to crank it till the oil presure switch turns the fuel pump on. i had a problem like this once and it would take alot of cranks. sometimes it would magically start up, but thats cause it was an electrical problem and electrical problems can be crazy....

so check your fuel pump relays out.

 

Mine also takes about 5 seconds to start, I put the key to "run" for about 2-3 seconds and started right up. I usually let it crank to help build oil pressure up.

 

so one vote for fuel pump relay and one vote for "it just does"

any other suggestions?

 

I think i have the same problem, although I dont really know anything about what you're talking about.

Are there any long term bad effects besides the starter giving out? and the inconvience of the long start. Mine cranks for about 4-6 seconds i'd say before fireing up. Longer than it sould be, but not excsevially long.

 

mine always takes 2 trys to start it, or i can let it go for about 8-10 secs and itll start, but starts better when i hit it twice then start it

 

well mine had the problem of having to take 2 tries to start (8-10 seconds each). and it was just the fuel pump relay. alot of camaros do take like 4-5 cranks to start and thats not a big deal i think. and your supposed to hear the fuel pump turn on.

 

i wonder if it's ignition-related?

i had an msd 6a box and msd coil on my car. it started right up.

the msd ignition went south, so i swapped back to a stock coil with no msd.

the engine now spins for 3-4 seconds before starting. it runs perfectly, other than that. as a matter of fact, it actually makes 3 more hp on the dyno without the msd!

 

Mine takes 3-4 seconts and stalls right away if you don't give it some gas for a secont.

 

i had somewhat the same probelm when i got mine heres how it works form a gm techs mouth. Turn key on for 2 secs or till you here the pump, turn it off for 10 secs, you can either now start the car or turn the key on for two again and off for ten the ccar should fire. Also heres a real simple thing put a new gas cap on. He said the gas cap could get dirty and goof with teh pressure i put on a new cap and havent had any problems with it since.

 

Have you checked the starter and solenoid and all the grounds and leads for it? My car did the exact same thing and a new stater fixed it right away. I'd test that puppy and see what's up, the alternator is also a known culprit. Check the easy stuff before the more complicarted stuff! ; )

Nick

 

oh yea starters and alternator both have been replaced within the past year with no changes to starting.

 

hey guys


My car seems to do the exact same thing. But last yr i had the fuel pump changed and a new relay. Since then it done it and before the FP went bad it done it. I seem to notice it more on a cold start first thing in the morning. I have tried turning the key on twice letting it build pressure. But i think i know what it is.

The ECM doesn't pulse the injector until it get a pulse reference from the dist. thus taking a few second before it starts.

think of it like a cold carb you mash the gas once or twice to get the choke to close then it takes about 4-5 seconds for it to draw the fuel into the cylinders.

TBI does the same thing it takes a few seconds for the fuel to be drawn into the cylinder. Thats my point of veiw anyhow

If you find out what it is post it