so here is the deal: when i start my car when its cold, it takes like 10-30 seconds to turn over... it cranks fine, but just takes awhile to turn over. when its warm it starts right away. i dont think its my starter, it sounds like its turning the flywheel, but just that the engine isnt firing... any guesses?

also- another ...sort of... related problem... so sometimes my car will start up and it will instantly die... i usually give it a little gas when i start it and even when i do that it just dies and it makes a sort of "hollow" sound its kinda hard to describe... then i wait 60 seconds... and it starts right up... but if i try to start it before that it just cranks and cranks but doesnt start... any ideas what this is about? are these problems connected?

thanks in advance

 

when was your last turn-up? first and foremost change your fuel filter... its the cheapest "what if" to start with....

 

not really sure when the last tune up was... i got this car about 3 months ago, it was supposedly previously owned by a mechanic... but from the looks of it... im guessing not... i havent had check the plugs wires or anything like that, im just wondering where to start with this, ill take a look at the manual and see if i cant figure out how to check out the fuel filter... ill get back to you, thx

 

Check your fuel pump by listening for the famous "buzzing" sound, and wait for your CEL to go off. You can also put your head between the seats and down by the rear console area, I did that, and I could actually hear the fuel pump picking up fuel. If that's not the issue, check your ecu for codes. However, if I were a betting man, I would say it's your spark plugs/wires. I just got a b16a swap, and it would idle fine, then when warm, die. Stupid me, I forgot to replace the spark plugs and wires, after all they were like ten years old ... Works beautifully now! Good luck!

 

Always, always, always troubleshoot the electrical aspect of this problem. If it doesn't get a spark, you can eliminate all fuel issues. If it does get a spark, you can eliminate all electrical issues.

 

ok so i changed the fuel filter... and have a question.. is the hole in the banjo bolt supposed to line up directly to the fuel lines becuase i could not get it to line up exactly, and i tried it and it worked without it perfectly lined up....

also- i checked the plugs/wires, wires are clean and pretty new, plugs have "normal" wear and look healthy

i am looking for more suggestions... i think the next thing ill try is a fuel pressure gague and make sure its at the correct psi, but any more suggestions would be useful... i have listened for the fuel pump but i dont hear anything i havent heard in the other 7 cars ive owned....

 

It's probably the main relay. Like posted above, litsten for the fuel pump as soon as you turn the ignition on without turning it over. You should hear it hum for a couple of seconds. The main relay feeds the fuel pump power. If you can't hear the fuel pump, that's why it's not cranking. You can resolder the solder points on the main relay without having to buy another one. That's what i did. Search for main relay, and you'll find exactly how it's done.

 

The only reason I don't think it's the main relay is because hope said that the car starts right up when it's warm, and takes longer when it's cold.
Now what i'm wondering is if it's hard to start when the outside temperature is hot, and the engine is cold? Then that would be a main relay problem.
As long as you physically can hear the fuel pump working, then the main relay is doing its' job. I would take schmoos advise and check the wires/plugs, check if you're getting spark, check or replace the distributor rotor and cap. If all that fails, then maybe you have bad gas , I mean fuel. Bad fuel can cause a car to act strangely...but that may not be the problem.
BTW, the banjo bolt does not have to be lined up correctly, the inside of the bolt is hollow, so fuel flows into the bolt itself, and out the hole. Good luck!