had this problem for a litte while now, i am not really bothered by it before but now it seems to have gotten worse.
during cold mornings (only around 18c) it takes the car about 1minute of cranking for it to start. at first i thought it was the fuel filter, so cheap as it was, i just changed it. still same problem. then i tried to replicate the problem one cold morming (it does not do this on warm weaher) i checked for spark on the plug leads and all was ok. also removd air filter as this could be blocked. unfortunately still the same prob. what could be the problem.

btw. once the car runs, there seems to be nothing wrong, good wth acceleration, never cuts ou. could it be the fuel pump or just the relay? but won;t the same symptoms show when im already driving it? thanks

I'd be suspicious of the fuel pump. Mine had similar symptoms... Park it in the shade at work, and come out at the end of the day and I could crank it 'till the cows came home but it wouldn't light off. Come back the next morning when it had been sitting in the sun and it would light off immediately and run with no problems. After a couple of weeks of this it finally gave up the ghost.

Eric W.

I've had problems starting when it's been cold and wet outside... the wet end up being the important factor...

My Coil ended up being the culprit... it was arcing to the metal it's mounted to.

Changed it and problem solved...

hope this helps.

dT

I could well be the fuel pump, but - and I hate to sound condecending - the owners manual gives specific instructions for cold starting. It says to get in, press the accelerator to the floor and release s-l-o-w-l-y, and then turn the key.

Give it a try. If it doesn't work, you've lost nothing but about 10 seconds.

Those sound like directions for a carbureted engine... he's got a 3.0L FI engine, and the instructions for those are usually something along the lines of amputate your right foot so that you won't be tempted to try to set the non-existent choke... just turn the key and let the ECU take care of the rest... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Eric W.

It's been a long time since I owned a 3.0 (until recently), but I recall using the technique once or twice while we still owned the '91.

Mind you, I didn't say get in there and pump the crap out of it. One time down and release slowly.

For a 2.6 you do it several times.

OK, I'm willing to be enlightened... exactly what does this accomplish in terms of a fuel-injected engine?

Eric W.

Possibly relieving an air-lock from cavitation? Don't really see how it could of gotten there in the first place though <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

ECU coolant temp sensor is bad. It's the two prong one on the water neck at the front/top of the engine. NAPA carries them. About $20, IIRC. Or the connection to the sensor is bad...

When mine went out, I had a real bad time getting it to crank, and it ran like cr*p until it warmed up.

your right, the cause im just guessing because of age or whatever. alls i know is that ive been doing it for years, the colder it is/or has been the more fuel i give it and it works... a slow pump or 2. anything to get that dam heater going when theres a 1/2" of ice on the windshield <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />.