Excessive Cranking

[LazerAWD]

Hi guys, recently my DSM started exhibiting a strange problem. When the car is cold and I attempt to start it cranks for an abnormaly long period of time before it finally turns over. It starts up relatively quickly if the engine is warm, it only does it after it has been sitting for an hour or so.
Also when it does start up it runs fine, no stuttering or stalling. I changed the plugs yesterday and that didn't seem to help. The wires on it are Magnecores about 3-4 years old. I am looking to sell the car to a freind of mine and he wants this fixed before he buys it. Where else can I look for this problem, Ignition or Fuel system??? The car is a 92 awd with basic mods: Intake, Catback, Mbc

 

[housegsx]

Do you still have the fuel pressure solenoid in place?

 

[LazerAWD]

I believe it is still in place, where is it located exactly so I can check it out?

 

[housegsx]

It would be located up on the firewall. There will be a vacuum hose going from the intake manifold to the fps solenoid and from there to the fuel pressure regulator on the end of the fuel rail.

The reason I suggested this is because if it is removed, it can cause some fuel in the fuel rail to evaporate when the engine is still warm, making it needed to crank over a bit more than usual. Honestly though, I have mine removed and never noticed the difference. This is probably not your problem, but I thought I'd make you aware of it so you at least verify if you still have the solenoid or not.

 

[killakev805]

is it cranking over slower than it used to? I would replace the plug wires, I have always changed my plug wires every 6 months on my dsm.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

The FPS is really for HOT starts for reasons you suggested. When it's hot outside you will get a"vaporization" of fuel in the rail. The FPS opens up to atmosphere and increases the fuel pressure to the base setting, in effect upping the fuel pressure in order for the engine to start quicker. As the system equalizes, it drops down to normal.

I also imagine that the FPS is not your problem, but check them old wires. When they're cold the might not be working properly

 

[LazerAWD]

I will try some cheapo Autozone wires, hopefully that will do the trick. The only thing that came to mind was if it was plugs or wires wouldn't the car be misfiring or running poorly while I was driving??

 

[andymoraitis]

Generally, bad plug wires would cause misfire under boost.

As far as the hard start problem, I would look at the fuel system first and replace the fuel filter if it hasn't been done recently. It's also possible that your fuel pressure regulator is on it's way out. If you can swap it with a known working FPR, that would clue you in as to where the problem lies.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

They could be just bad enough that during cold weather the conductor contracts enough to cause the excessive cranking, but once it heats up it makes decent contact and just hasn't "craped-out" enough to cause further issues. IDK. But a cheap-o set is an inexpensive try.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Good point Andy....I've seen a bad fuel filter cause problems at start-up. However it is usually a random thing and not just an "at certain times" kind of thing. But anything is possible.

 

[andymoraitis]

Good point Andy....I've seen a bad fuel filter cause problems at start-up. However it is usually a random thing and not just an "at certain times" kind of thing. But anything is possible.

I know I'm reaching a bit, but I just wanted to rule out any cheap possibilities. I'll bet either the pump has issues or it's something with the FPR. Then again, I'm not all that bright so I could be off on my assessment.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Andy, now that you mention it....about 2 (99-2000) years after I bought my car the OEM fuel pump took a dump and had a starting issue.

It wouldn't start in the morning (around 6:30) on random days. It might start with no issues for a few days, then a problem starting, then no issue for a day or so, then start fine. This went on for several weeks before the pump took a dump completely. And it happened toward the end/beginning of the year, when it's cooler here (but I wouldn't say cold).

I forgot all about that until you mentioned the pump. Although I wouldn't know how to isolate the pump as being the problem (because the dealer couldn't, it was still under warranty) without replacing it with a known good one. And they're not the cheapest thing to throw in as a try.

 

[killakev805]

I don't think it's gonna be the fuel filter or fuel pump or fpr, because he says it only has the problem when it is cold started. Once the engine is warm he said it isn't a problem, a fuel problem wouldn't be so uniform.

 

[andymoraitis]

I know how you feel Jim. For the cost of a new Walbro 190, I'd go ahead and do it though. At least you'd know that you have a new pump and that's one less thing it could be. Process of elimination can be a real biatch sometimes.

 

[LazerAWD]

I actually had my fuel pump replaced back in the winter, however it was with a advanced auto parts pump and it seems to make more noise than the stock pump. I didn't bother with an upgrade because I knew I was selling the car in the near future. The excessive cranking problem has been going on for a couple of weeks now.

 

[ss94s10]

I'd check for compression. cold and hot