ok my 1992 RS with the L03 runs great and starts up fine but if i run it for awhile and get it up to operating temp and then let it sit for about 30-45 minutes and then go to start it again it will start up then die. always starts and stays running on the 3rd try. is this normal. doesnt act weird other than the fact that it stumbles and dies the first two times. if i turn it off and start it like 5 min later it starts right up and stays running. but if i let it set for a while it will do this. any idea?

 

Your oil sending unit could be on its way out. If it does not see pressure right away it will not allow the fuel pump to prime.

 

Fuel pump relay makes fuel pump prime when key is turned to "ON" position regardless of oil pressure.

 

It has been awhile since I last had to deal with this. If the sending unit is bad something reconises that there isn't any oil pressure and will not allow the car to start. After a little bit of cranking it will eventually fire.

 

That is true shifty, But what you are saying is that the fuel pump will not prime until it sees oil pressure and that is wrong. If I walk out to my car right now and turn the key to the "ON"(not run) position, the fuel pump will prime for two seconds with no oil pressure. You will not get any oil pressure until the distributor starts turning the oil pump. Then if the fuel pump relay is bad, the oil pressure switch/sending unit will kick in and run the pump.

 

well it will start up. run for about a second then stumble and die. does this twice. always keeps running on the third try. seems kinda odd.


*edit* also how long do you guys usually hold the ket in the start position before your car starts. mine will turn over for about 2 or 3 seconds before starting when it has sat overnight and cooled completly but if its been started recently it will fire right up. *edit*

 

ive thought my car was off in lala land i have to crank it twice, i can hold the key the first time for 5-7 seconds and it wont attempt to start, its always the second time i crank it that it starts. i figure its got to do with somethin in the ignition. i have a strong enough battery the starter works and it spins that flywheel like a frisbee. it doesnt even matter how long the car has been running if you shut it down and try to restart it, you have to go thru the same steps all over again.

 

mine doesnt do that. it will start each time just not stay running.

 

Check this and see if the symptoms apply.

 

Thats what it is. Ok thanks for the clear up. I could not remember the cylce of things. It has been awhile. Could one of those still cause a starting delay. I am having huge brain fart right now because I used to rememeber something that was key in this area for quick start ups.

 

Three words, Fuel pump pressure. Check it now before you do anything else. Even though it seems to run good after you finally get it started, low pressure will play hell with starting. I had the same problem and 2 or 3 times turned out to be 5 or 6 times as the pump got worse. I spent enough money trying to find the problem to buy the gauge to test it with in the first place!
Sometimes you get lucky and just the fuel filter is pluged up. If your pressure is low, change the fuel filter first and then re-check the pressure, if it's still low, replace the pump.