a few weeks ago i broke one of the therostat bolts off in the block. i had to take it to a shop to have it drilled out because i did not have the resources at home to fix it. im drilling out the bolt, the shop took off my plenum. ever since then, the car has had trouble starting. turn the key to start and it will crank but not catch. if you do it a few times it will eventually start. once you get it started and turn it off, it will start right back up no problem. other than that, car runs and drives perfectly. and ideas what could be causing this??

 

double post

 

Does the fuel pump run a prime cycle for two seconds when the ignition is first turned on?

 

yes. i usually turn the key to run and let the fuel pump prime for a few seconds before i turn the key to start.

 

Can you test the fuel pressure? (Do you have a guage?)

 

no, i dont have one available to me. are you thinking that perhaps the ECM isnt firing more fuel out of the injectors on start up?

 

ttt

 

When it eventually starts, does it start good? Or does it spit and studder for a bit?

 

it starts fine. im realy stumped on this one.

 

If it spits and studders, then starts fine on subsequent starts does that mean the fuel pump is on it's way out?

Because thats what mine is doing and my buddy says I have a weak fuel pump and it's on it's way out.

Also, do i have to drop the tank on a 92 Firebird to chang the pump?

 

Not necessarily, my car would not start the first time after it was sitting 30 minutes +. Then when it would finally start, it would spit and stutter for 10 seconds and resume normal idle, and the car drove perfect. It seemed like it was flooded with gas. Well I pulled my fuel rail and primed my pump, and my fuel injectors dripped. So when I’d turn the car off, the injectors would leak fuel and flood my engine.

I’d get a fuel pressure gage and monitor your fuel pressure after shutdown. Also if you car is having similar symptoms as mine, when it does not want to start, give it 70% throttle and see if it starts quicker. If it does its most likely your injectors.

 

I'll be borrowing my friends fuel presure guage and will monitor it this weekend. But, if the 70% throttle doesn't help then I guess it may be a bad pump? Car runs perfect otherwise and only has this problem after sitting for a while.

But if the injector/s are leaky then do they need replacement or is there another solution?

 

After thinking about this for a minute, I know it's not impossable, but my injectors are only 3 years old, so I'm leaning away from them being the problem. Also, I just went out and tried to start the car (it's been sitting for a day) and tried the 70% throttle while starting and it did nothing to help it.

I guess I'll just have to rely on the uel pressure guage I'm gonna borrow.