1989 2.8MPI w/5-spd.

When the engine is cold, the car starts right-away.

But when the engine is warm, it takes a few seconds to start.

Akshay

 

How do you turn the key?

Do you go from "off" directly to "crank"?

 

Yup, I do that for both cold and warm starts.

Akshay

 

Ah.. okay.. next time, for a warm start, turn the key from "off" to "on"- where all the dash lights come on; it's the position right before "crank". Let the key sit there for a second or three, to let the fuel pump build up 42 PSI in the fuel rail. If it's quiet around, you should hear the hum of the pump for a few seconds, then the pump will shut off. Now move the key one position further to crank the motor. It should start much faster.

Reason: When you jump from "off" to "crank", the fuel pump is trying to build up pressure for the fuel injectors. Until that happens, the motor just cranks & cranks & cranks - until there's adequate pressure, and then it starts.

I think the reason why your car starts so quickly when it's cold is because our 85-89 2.8 MPFI motors use a 9th injector, a "cold start injector". (Another name is cold start valve.) This adds extra fuel to the motor when the coolant temp sensor tells the computer "Hey, the engine is cold!" This might be why the motor starts so quickly when cold.

I always have to wait that 2-3 seconds for the pressure to build. Otherwise, my car seems to take forever to start. And it usually happens when there's a cute girl nearby- the car just cranks and cranks and cranks. However, if I let pressure build up, and the pump shuts off, and then I crank- the motor starts immediately, in less than a second.. after maybe a 1/2-3/4 spin of the starter motor.