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unpredictable hard start.

Teardrop

Teardrop

New member
No real rhyme or reason as to when. Engine could be warm, could be cold.
It would sometimes happen in summer, and now that it is cold.
Occasionally, it has to turn over several seconds before firing.
Turn-over is strong. No fluids mixing (like oil and coolant)
Once it is started, it idles and runs fine.

Most times the car fires right up in a second or two, but lately it has a hell of a time.

As I have the 94 3.4 GTP with the stupid OBD 1.5 (that is what it is called?) I do have a check engine light but have not been able to pull codes.

This unpredicatable behavior doesn't seem to be linked to the CEL as it is always on, except when the battery disconnects and it takes a few days for the CEL to come on.
Plugs seem to be in ideal shape (brownish electrode, no damage, they are fairly new) No real smoke from tailpipe except the normal steam on real cold mornings.

Where to start?
 


Your fuel pump is getting week. Try cycling the key a few times before cranking and see if it start right up.
 
Well, when I did a fuel pressure test, it came to 40 psi which is within acceptance, but I shall try that.
I might mention I finally was able to get ahold of a scanner from O'Reiley auto parts and it threw codes 1404, 1405 and 1406 which are all 3 EGR related.
Took the EGR off, took it apart, cleaned it all up. It was not stuck open or anything but let me try that cycling thing with the key.
 
Seems the Fuel pressure regulator went bad.
the engine was leaking gas on the ground badly, and when I was taking thing apart, gas was spilling all over the place, I guess the diaphram in the FPR gave way and sucked a bunch of fuel into the rest of the intake system.
 
That is likely your issue.

When he said your pump is weak, he likely meant from a leakdown perspective. If your pressure leaks down from either a back check valve in the pump or the fpr failing, it'll exhibit this type of behavior.
 
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