I have a 94z. My car is taking a long time to start. This problem started about a month ago and seems to be getting worse. Sometimes it will start right off, but other times it will take up to 5 seconds to fire. It cranks constant acting like it isn't going to start and then all of a sudden it fires up like a champ. I don't car too much about the long starts. But the fear of it getting worse and the possibility of getting stranded concern me. It is also kinda emberrassing. I don't have a clue what this could be. If anyone has any ideas on what this could be please help. Thaks alot

 

sounds like ur opti could be heading south... i'd look into replacing it more... are you having any stumbles while ur driving?... u drive over any water or spring a leak in a water hose recently ?

 

ah poop that's what I was afraid of. I have driven through a little bit of water, but I haven't been crossing rivers in it. (I use bridges). The performance has been fine lately. Maybe I should go flog it and see if anything happens.

 

if its been wet, it might dry up give it a few days rest if u have 2 cars... and maybe the moisture can leave... that worked for my firebird... although it was a new opti...

ive had 3 now so opti suck

 

i had the same problem and it ended up being my fuel pump, when you turn the key to the on postion several times with out actually turning it on how does the car start then?

 

I have the same problem... I changed my fuel filter which was filthy and it got a little better, but it's still there.
I'll be changning my fuel pump next week.

 

Usually long cranking times come from fuel problems. Either the fuel is leaking into the intake or draining back toward the tank. These problems can be see with fuel pressure gage after the engine is shut down. If the regulator is the problem, the vac line connected to it will be wet with fuel. If the check ball in the fuel pump is the problem, the car will start easier when the power is cycled on for 2 seconds and off several times before actually cranking the engine.

If the injectors are leaking causing puddling in the intake, the power cycling will not help but holding the throttle wide open when cranking it may.

 

i had the same problem. my injectors were leaking. it would start fine in the mornings after the fuel leaked out of my fuel line or if i would crank it back up before it would get flooded but if i let it sit there for a few minutes it would take 2-5 seconds to start.

 

I had a similar problem with a '95 TA. If I had been driving it recently it would fire right up, but if it sat for a couple hours or longer it would crank for a while. It got worse and worse until sometimes I would have to try for 5 minutes before it started. The dealership said it was the Opti and that I had a leaking Water Pump so I changed them both but the problem never went away. The car was totalled so I never found out what the problem was and I still have no clue but I would love to know if anyone does. Good luck.

 

hmm alot of things to think about. I will pull out the manual, play around and get back to you guys. Thanks for all of the awesome and quick responses. Such a great site

 

When I put my 160 degree thermostat in my car, the silencer tube hit the connector on the coolant temp sensor and damaged it. After that, my car would not start right, it wouldnt fire immediately it would just turn over. I figured out it was the sensor after i fixed the connector, the problem went away completely. It would only throw a code sometimes, i think it was due to the fact that the connector was just BARELY keeping contact.

 

I've dealt with the exact same thing for 2 years now. Here's the links to the threads I made to see if I could find anything out. The first thread pretty much answers it. I still haven't fixed it (notice it was '03 when I posted those) but I think I might ASAP once May gets here. Good luck man.

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187146

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98848

Kyle

PS - If it WAS the opti you'd probably have other problems, too. Like stumbling up top (mine did), rough idle sometimes, and worse gas mileage (I think). I'm almost 90% certain it's fuel related.

 

I am going to put a new in-line fuel filter on and spray some starting fluid down the throttle body, and mess around with my car a little bit before buying a fuel pump, which looks like the problem. With some more testing I will hopefully track the problem down. If it is the fuel pump is this the one I need?

http://www.racetronix.com/Racetronix..._Pump_Kit.html

I have spent way too much time and money on keeping my car maintained lately. This is getting frustrating. My car is a money pit.

Thanks for all of the help.

 

Go buy a fuel pressure gauge for $40 and check the fuel pressure.

I'll bet your porblem is the fuel pump.

 

I'm having a very similar problem. I ended up yanking my Optispark out and found that a series of bolts were loosened on the opti/timing cover (which I tightened upon reinstallation). Anyway, I found that when i spun the opti driveshaft, I heard a dragging noise in the optispark itself. I checked fuel pressure and its right at 40lbs so that seems OK.