If you crank the car, nothing at all happens, it cranks but doesnt fire. After letting of the key though, it will fire maybe a dozen times, in random cylinders.. backfires occasionally too.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

That's how my car acted when the opti went bad.

 

opti

 

sounds timing related... thus ima vote opti also

 

Mine does the same thing, you can crank it and it won't fire, but as soon as you release the key it starts to diesel backwards. I have noticed a pretty distinct pattern to mine that it does it when its extremly foggy. Then once things dry out it starts fine.

Have you noticed any patterns to yours, or is this the first time it's done it.