I have recently started having an occasional problem starting my car. Sometimes it starts and runs just fine, but not always. It will sometimes crank for a long time before starting. Sometimes it starts fairly quick but acts like it is only running on 4 cyls. If I shut it off and restart it, it usually then runs normally. Sometimes it starts up but runs so poorly that it will die out. Once it starts and is running OK it seems to run great until I shut it of and try to restart it. I drive it 45 mins to an hour, twice a day ,and it runs fine. Only a problem when starting and it sometimes start up right away and runs fine.

125K on car and the fuel filter, opti, plugs and wires were changed less than 10K ago.

Any suggestions on what to check first? Possible ignition switch problem? If so, how to test and how hard is it to change?

Thanks, Joel

 

I would remove and clean the idle air control.

 

Sounds like a possible fuel pump problem to me. Could be losing pressure when it sits like that, then builds up pressure as you crank it over and over.

Mike