97 aurora starting problem

hello everyone. i have a 97 aurora and it has 144,000 miles on it. a few months ago, i replaced the plugs and wires with delco platnium plugs, gapped correctly and delco wires. however now, when i go to start my car, i have to hold the key for a long time, before it finally starts. this only happens on a cold start. if i turn the car off, and then restart it a few minutes later, it will start fine. also, sometimes, the first time it will not start, and i hear a pop, like vacuum or something. anyones insite would be greatly appreciated on this. thanks in advance.

hmmm, well..first thing I would do is to look around the engine bay w/ the engine cover off and see if when I replaced my wires if I disconnected or broke a vacuum line. Next, I'd probably pull out the front set of plugs and see how they look(just b/c these guys are easy to get to...the back ones stink) You can usually bet a hard start is fuel or electrical. Notice any issues while driving/accelerating? Before starting the car, try turning the key half-way for a few seconds before actually cranking the car.

good luck

i also just had the fuel rails replaced via recall. I was hoping this would possibly fix the problem, but it did not. also, there are no issues while driving, at all. once the car is running, the no problems. this car only stalled once since i had it and that was like 7 months ago. thanks for the tips, ill try it.

I'm having the same problem too, takes a long time to start after it's been sitting for a while, but the 2nd try always goes perfect. I haven't had any problems while driving.

Any thoughts on specifically might be wrong? I'm not really a car guy(I come on here to try to atleast try to understand some of the problems I'm having) but I know atleast my fuel injectors are clean because I'm always adding cleaner to my gas.

Any help would be great.

I had the exact situation after replacing plugs, wires and fuel rails. Mine was cured by replacing the fuel pump preasure regulator. It's a $65 part and takes about 5 minutes to replace. If you can, don't take it to the dealer. They charged me $100 to diagnose what I told them was the problem and then replaced it for the $65. It works just like new now.

I had the same problem with my "97". I just had the fuel rail recall done and I hoped that they would replace the FPR. They did not so I replaced mine myself and the problem is now gone. How to replace the fuel pressure regulator [FPR]? You can do this yourself. Here is a helpful link for you www.dred98'sAuroraPage it will show you step by step on how to change it. It only takes about 10 minutes and about $50 for the FPR from AutoZone.

Like I said before, I'm not a car guy. I looked at that website and was able to find the fuel pressure regulator easily, and I know how to change it. The only problem is I can't find the valve that dred98 is talking about, I've looked all over and there in nothing that resembles what I saw in the picture.

I have a 95 Aurora and had the fuel rail recall done, my best guess is that I followed the fuel rail from the FPR all the way around to the back where it ends and there is a cap there, would that be the valve they are talking about?

Also, where can I get the FPR, I couldn't find one at all searching on the internet, any help there?

Appreciate any help, thank you.

i had the same problem and eventually it stopped starting it turned out there was a wire under the back seat that shorted out and it took me 415 bucks to fix cause I had to take it to the dealer after replacing the starter, starter relay, and ignition switch but at least I was able to replace them myself so I saved a bunch in labor.

Like I said before, I'm not a car guy. I looked at that website and was able to find the fuel pressure regulator easily, and I know how to change it. The only problem is I can't find the valve that dred98 is talking about, I've looked all over and there in nothing that resembles what I saw in the picture.

I have a 95 Aurora and had the fuel rail recall done, my best guess is that I followed the fuel rail from the FPR all the way around to the back where it ends and there is a cap there, would that be the valve they are talking about?

Also, where can I get the FPR, I couldn't find one at all searching on the internet, any help there?

Appreciate any help, thank you.

I HAVE A USED ONE THAT CHECKS OUT FINE, MAKE ME AN OFFER !
BLG66

sbronzell..... Yes,I think you found it! Does the cap look like the one that goes on a valve stem? If take it off, then it should resemble a "valvestem". Make sure you have a rag under it and some safety glasses on. Then take a small phillipshead screwdriver and push the inner stem. It should start releasing pressure {and gas}from your fuelrail. Is their an O'Riellys in your area they have one made by Borg Warner for $46.

I had the same problem with my "97". I just had the fuel rail recall done and I hoped that they would replace the FPR. They did not so I replaced mine myself and the problem is now gone. How to replace the fuel pressure regulator [FPR]? You can do this yourself. Here is a helpful link for you www.dred98'sAuroraPage it will show you step by step on how to change it. It only takes about 10 minutes and about $50 for the FPR from AutoZone.
you have the actuall link for that site?? thanks.

I took my car to the shop anyways just to make sure because I don't have the money to be hoping that the FPR is what's wrong. Anyways, I took it to the shop and yes the FPR was bad, but the guy said that it's not as easy as it's made to be here to change it.

Basically he said that you would have to gut it out and then put it in and reconfigure the pressure or something like that, like I said I'm not a car guy.

Anyways, I always go to this dealer and they are very trustworthy, and everyone I know that goes there agrees, so I know they're not just BSing me just to make some money.

Anyways, I assume why it's not so easy is because of the fuel line recall and how they changed stuff around there.

To fix it, it's going to be $65 for the actual parts and then 1 1/2 hours of labor, which turns out to be like $95, so $170 to fix after taxes is what it's going to take.

Just FYI.

sbronzell..... Yes,I think you found it! Does the cap look like the one that goes on a valve stem? If take it off, then it should resemble a "valvestem". Make sure you have a rag under it and some safety glasses on. Then take a small phillipshead screwdriver and push the inner stem. It should start releasing pressure {and gas}from your fuelrail. Is their an O'Riellys in your area they have one made by Borg Warner for $46.

The actual link for dred98's Aurora Pages is http//howardm.net/dred98/underhood.php .

I am not at all savvy on auto repair but if I can replace an FPR than anyone can. I know that you trust your shop but....I have read on different forums about how easy it is to replace the FPR and had to try. I did it and my problem was solved. $50 + 10 minutes of my time = happy starts. http://www.oreillyauto.com/B2Cecatalog

i have a 97 aurora, at start up its fine, if i let it sit after driving it for 10 min or so it takes 2 tries to start, but when i shut it off it will start right up

thanks everyone that helped. theres no doubt in my mind that the fpr is the problem. i will takcle it soon. thanks again.

well, i replaced the fpr yesterday myself. it took 15 minutes. it was extremely easy. thanks to everyone that helped me. the part cost me $40. and my problem is fixed. i think it may have helped my fuel gage problem as well. it has not worked since i got the car, and i would have to use the gallons used to determine when to get gas, as i always fill up. thanks again. :grinyes: