Starting Issues

My '85 Cabriolet has difficulty starting after being shut down at normal operating temperatures (i.e. stopping for gas or groceries). It turns over just fine, but won't fire up. I can get it to start if I crank it with the gas pedal floored or pumped. Not the ideal situation.

When I read about the typical hot start problem it sounds as though the starter will not even turn the engine over. Could this problem be related? I've checked into the installation of the relay needed to rectify the hot start issue, but I think my problem may be different.

The car is 20 years old, after all, and has 130K miles on it. I expect some issues but any help anyone can provide would be great. I did just replace the fuel filter to eliminate that from the equation (and as a general maintenance procedure).

It's not related to the hot crank (starter) issue. More likely it's a fuel pressure issue. Either could be losing fuel pressure when hot (regulator or accumulator) or not building pressure (fuel pump or regulator). Either way it's difficult to diagnose w/o a special CIS fuel pressure gauge.

Thanks, sounds like I need to take it to my local mechanic who can take it from there. I'll let you know how it works out.