Last night, it took my car about 30 cranks before it started, and this morning the same thing happened. Usually the car fires up on the first crank. But today, after I got it started, I drove it for about 1/2 hour, came home and shut it off and then went to start it up again and it started right up. I let the car sit for about 2 hours and it doesn't want to start again. The check engine light hasn't come on at all. Does this sound like the opti is bad? Has anyone else had problems like this? Thank you for any help in advance.

 

How many miles you have on the OPTI? I don't think that's it cause they usually either work or they don't. Have you put a vacuum gauge on it? You could have a leaky injector or a manifold leak in the back. Only other things I can think of would be a bad IAC, TPS, or an EGR valve, how does the thing drive?

 

No sorry 97ws6scharged I disagree the car should still start with the problems you listed. Hard starting is a sign of a bad opti do a search people have listed signs of a bad opti in many posts.Scan it if you can. It could also be your fuel pump. My car would have a very hard time starting when it started to go check your fuel pressure.

 

He said the car starts, it's just hard to start. That's why I was wondering how it drives. Does it cough, sputter, or stumble, or does it run like a bat outa hell? Every time I've ever had a bad opti, it would work perfect one day and the next it just wouldn't work. I was just trying to think of what would cause it to be hard to start. Yes, the opti could be the culprit, but before you buy a $200 cap and rotor, or a $500 opti assembly, check the other stuff just to make sure. I would hate to spend that much $$ and the thing still be hard to crank. I know I'll be much happier when I get around to ordering my LTCC in the new year.

 

After I finally get the car started, it runs rough for about 5 seconds and blows out black smoke, then it runs and drives perfect, like theres nothing wrong with it. If I get the car up to operating temperature and shut it off and immediately try to restart it, it starts right up on the first crank, but as soon as I leave it sit for a while and it cools off, it doesnt want to start again. I haven't put a vacum gauge on it yet, however I did check it for fuel pressure and its getting 40psi and I checked every plug for spark and they're all getting spark. I just bought a scanner today, but I had to order the OBD 1 cable for it and it will be in tomarrow and I'll check the codes tomarrow night and post them. Also, the Opti has about 30,000 on it. I recently changed the plugs and wires too so its shouldn't be them. Thank you both for your help, I'll post the codes tomarrow.