It almost always takes 3 times to start. What could it be. It has 160K on it with the origonal opti and fuel pump. Thanks!

 

does it sound like its missen or does it run fine

 

It runs great. There is no code thrown for misfire or anything.

 

only thing i can think of is your starter

 

Could be the starter, but that would usually turn the car over on the first time. It would be a slow and hard start, but it would do it. I would say that your fuel pump is on the way out of town. It may be weeks or months, but its coming. Good luck with it.

JB

 

Thanks for the input. The starter isn't weak at all. Does anyone else think it's the fuel pump? What kind of pressure should I see when I just turn the key?

 

Extended cranking sounds like fuel pump bleedind down and not holding pressure when car sits, definately worth checking out with fuel pressure gage.

 

Ok, next question. Since my fuel pump is going bad, do you think a new one would give me any HP?

 

If it runs fine when driving doubt new fuel pump would add HP. Attach fuel pressure gage to fuel rail, start car, should be around 40 psi. shut car off and if gage drops to 0 within like 15 minutes I would say pump bleeding off and getting weak.

 

Red96Lt1:

I'm sorta in your situation but I have solved my problem. I thought it was the starter as well. So all day today I took out the exhaust, bought new starter. I installed, so that wasn't the problem. So my uncle and I went to the Chevrolet Dealership tonight and ask a few questions to one of their technicians. He gave us some help and he actually left work(once his shift was over) he came by our house and helped us solved the problem which was very nice, you don't see many technicians from a dealership going to people homes and help their problems. My problem was the clutch pedal sensor that gave out. You might wanna check that out. Plus I got to see in the new 2004 Corvette, man they are awesome. They feel like a sofa and you can feel the lightness of the car just sitting in it. Well I hope this will assist you.

 

resurrecting this:

Hey Red96, fix your prob? I have a very similar issue. Ran several fuel pressure tests and the pressure drops from 40-42 at idle to ZERO psi within 2 seconds. Regulator vacuum is also good. The car runs strong w/o miss or hesitation, but it's pretty hard to start. Sometimes it starts slow then idles high, that may be a sticky injector Recently started smelling gas after shut-off too, dunno what that is. So I ask again, did you fix it? let us know - thanks!

Brian

 

Yeah, she starts up within 1.5 seconds now. It use to take 3 starts of 5-8 seconds each. I did help it start better (with the old pump) by turning the key to the run position for 2 sec, then off, then run for 2 sec, then off, then run for 2 sec, then started it. It still took a little while, but it was better than 3 starts. This gave the fuel pump time to pressurize the system with out having to engage the starter. Hope this helps, anymore questions, just shoot away!

 

I'm 99 percent sure its your fuel pump dude.

 

It sounds like the Ignition Coil to me. I'd take that off and have it checked somewhere.

 

Most likely the pump's check valve not holding pressure, or the pump crapping out... Try starting it once, shutting it down and starting right after... does it start fine? Now try not starting it for a few hours ... how does it behave?