.........I Have a 1998 LX Sedan that is pretty hard to start, especially when its not been running for an hour or more..... What it does, is it turns but doest start, it usually takes 2-3 tries to start, it just turns for about 5 secconds then ill try again and itl turn for another 5 secconds and usually start..........

Heres What Ive Tried: I have Replaced the air filter.

I have used techron fuel system cleaner and switched to chevron gas for a couple months, but that didnt do anything.
I have cleaned out the Idle Air Controler
I Have replaced the spark plugs twice, gapping them properly

My insticnts tell me its the fuel pump.... I did pull out the fuel pump fuse in the fuse box and then it wouldnt start at all...so i dont know if that means that the fuel pump IS workign or just kind of working or what??? with the fuse back in it continues to take a couple tries to start.

Im Hesitant to just replace the fuel pump because its so expensive and i dont want to replace it unless it needs to be.

Please Help Im stuck......thank you in adavnce anyone.

have you had a good look at the battery? (its voltage)
-if the fuel pump is going normaly theres a real damn erratic idle..

Ive Noticet a couple more things, It backfires pretty often right before or when it starts, i havnt checked the battery voltage ill check that. Thanks Snow

backfiring? is the timing off? might wanta have a peak at your distrubuter/coil/EEC wich ever you got. Maby take a peak at the timing as well.

What would i be looking for with the distributor?....Also is the timing belt pretty easy to get to, it seems like it would be pretty tight in there and hard to reach?