Car almost wont start after sitting a few hours?

[project_tsi]

91 Laser RS Turbo

Well after about 2 weeks of working on the car I finally got her running again. Ive now been driving it daily for approximately a week. over this week, and a few times before that, the car would start all the time w/ no trouble, just fire right up. Now all of a sudden on saturday afternoon the check engine light came on. I didnt know what for but i checked everything on the car and it all seemed to check out ok. Now everytime I start the car, the check engine will come on but not immidiatly, it will wait a minute or two then come on and stay on until I shut it off. And now, Sunday morning the damn thing wouldnt start! I turned it over probly 3 or 4 times, and the car didnt even try to start, no pops or anything. then after that it will try to start, or make some poping sounds, almost wanting to start. it will do this probly 9 or 10 times, then finally w/ me feathering the gas pedal the car will finally start and run fine w/ no other issues (besides the CEL). When the car is warm it will still fire right up, but last night I went to the movies to see XXX:state of the union, and after it was over the car had trouble starting again. I know its not plugs and wires, I replaced those last night thinking that was the problem. The only thing i can think of is its possibly something wrong w/ the fuel system, possibly not building up enough pressure, but im not sure, So any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Dan

 

[CyberEye]

did you change the fuel pump recently?

 

[project_tsi]

did you change the fuel pump recently?

No the fuel system is all stock. I did look under the hood and i noticed that bolt on top of the fuel filter was wet along w/ the fuel filter itself. This led me to believe that the bolt is possibly leaking, so i tightened it up a little and it didnt seem to help although it still looks like its leaking a little gas right around the filter.

 

[adidas5482]

if the cel is for coolant temp sensor, then that is your problem.

 

[project_tsi]

if the cel is for coolant temp sensor, then that is your problem.

How would a CEL of a coolant temp sensor cause the car to not want to start? I hope its as easy as the sensor b/c i also hooked up my friends data logger and it said my coolant temp is at -75.7 degrees farenheit, but a week or so ago we hooked it up and it was running fine. BTW, my stock coolant temp gauge doesnt work so i was using the datalogger to monitor my coolant temp. Thanks again guys.

 

[adidas5482]

when the coolant temp sensor goes bad, the ecu enters fail safe mode by assuming the car is at normal operating temp all the time. By assuming this, the car will not inject extra fuel on start up making the car hard to start. I think a bad coolant temp sensor will read -40 degrees.

 

[project_tsi]

Well im so F'ing dumb. The other day i was reinstalling my dejontool intake pipe after performing a boost leak test and somehow the coolant temp sensor plug came out and i didnt even notice it was unhooked. Tuesday morning i found it unpluged, so i plugged it in, the car started right up, and i went on my way. Thanks for all the help tho, and i understand if i get a slap on the wrist or two.