LGS_18

Hey! I have a 6 cyl 92 bird. The car has been running great for the last 3 years iv had it but recently it has trouble starting up. It only has trouble starting when its a cold start, but if the car has been running for a while and i start it back up, its fine. I replaced the distributor but that didnt help. Anyone have any suggestions what might be causing this? Thanks!!

brettr81

What exactly is it doing, not doing when attempting to start? Is there a click, no click, tries to turn over but won't start?

Cheerio

iTrader: (1)

sounds like its a long cranking time. i have the same issue. first time starting up takes some tries. even priming it. can shutit off and start it up back fine. ill check my manual but i am sure it has to do with some sensors.

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

Could be the fuel system not holding pressure, has to build back up every time it sits for a while. Get a fuel pressure gauge and put it on the valve on the fuel rail. Run it, shut it off and see how much the pressure drops over a half hour, hour, 2 hours, etc. Shouldn't really drop much. If it does, you may have leaking injectors.

Cheerio

iTrader: (1)

Here's the page.

Cheerio

iTrader: (1)

Other ones.

LGS_18

Yeah it just cranks for a while and then surges hard like its got a big cam in it. I think i may need to go through my sensors and then the fuel system

LGS_18

By the way. Fuel pump pressure is 38

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

When does it read 38 psi? Running, after running, after sitting for a while? Not sure what sensor is going to make the engine crank for a while when cold. Maybe a coolant temp sensor if it's always reading high, so you're not getting the cold start injector when you need it. Do you have access to a scan tool to read coolant temp?

LGS_18

A shop did the test for me. But im working on the car next week and will check the scan tool and do more testing. I will keep posted on my findings.

maroe624

I had a similar problem. Sounds like its your fuel pressure regulator. Hard starts when cold and sounds like it has a cam is due to fuel leaking into the cylinders. When hot it will start back up no problem because there is no fuel in cylinders. To check if its your fpr. Pull the vaccumm hose coming off the fpr and if that leaks gas then yes its your fpr. I'm willing to bet its that.

H8TRAFIC

So Im having the same problem as OP. At idle my fuel pressure is 42psi. As soon as I shut the car off the pressure drops to 15- fast. The pressure when the key is turned to "run" is 15. My fuel pressure regulator is not leaking and my fuel pump primes as it should when I turn the key on. Leaky injectors?

H8TRAFIC

I did forget to mention the fuel filter is new. After relieving the pressure I ended up with the SES light on. Code 54 which is fuel pump related. I dont know what to make of this.

maroe624

If its throwing you a fp code, I would switch out the pump. Not exactly sure what makes u throw a fp code but Maybe the pump is just bad . Switch it out. Easy job if u have a trap door haha if not your gonna have to drop the tank or make a trap door.

LiveIt!

Are you having trouble with cold starts too? Leaking injectors seem to be spreading around the V6 cars on the forums lately

H8TRAFIC

Yes my problem is only on cold starts. I hate to take a chance on a fuel pump because its such an involved job vs. injectors. Theres no way Im cutting in a trap door.

LiveIt!

You can troubleshoot the fp real easy, you can supply +12v to the G terminal on the ALDL, or jumper 2 posts (forget which) on the connector for the fp relay. You can find a diagram easy, you just need to jumper the ports so +12v goes to the pump

if if the issue is only on cold starts I'd place my bets on the injectors, they're a lot easier to pull out and check than the fuel pump :P
you might get lucky and just have some trash causing some injectors to stick open.

H8TRAFIC

After a little more research the check ball in the fuel pump could be failing causing the pressure to drop so quickly. So now I'm thinking of that being the cause. I cant imagine the injectors would leak down that fast.