hard starting when cold outside

hello everyone,, i've owned my 95' aurora for about 3 years.it seems to have some kind of starting problem that is related to the temperature outside.if the temp gets to around 10-20 degrees,generally it won't start.it cranks fine,just wont start..as the temperature gets closer to 32 degrees it begins to start easier? example,,last winter on a very cold day it woulden't start (cranked fine) had the car towed to a local garage.he let the car sit in one of the bays for about 45 minutes,it fired up fine,no problems.i've tried gas line antifreeze several times but diden't seem to help much..anyone else have a similar problem with there aurora,or any ideas what could cause this..this is not related to a battery problem,the car cranks strong..thanks everyone

the first winter that i owned my 96 it also had trouble starting on very cold days... with the help i got on this forum things seemed to point to the fuel pressure dropping off when things got cold out, i changed the fuel pressure regulator and things were back to starting good again...check the threads about the fuel pressure regulator and you will find some good information that should help you.

thanks for the reply NEWSCARVER,,,,,i also replaced the fuel pressure regulator...still have the same problem ??

It does sound like the typical frozen gas line - did you use the right gas line anti-freeze? There are 2 types. The Isopropyl product is more $$ but breaks down the water on a molecular level so it can be "burned". Be sure to use products with an isopropyl base.

In addition, a fuel filter that is gummed up may allow fuel to pass when the temp is warm but not when the temp is cold. I would replace the fuel filter too and then take it from there.

Do you have any check engine light?

yes,,fuel filter was replaced and isopropyl gas line antifreeze was used ??

The intake air temp sensor may be the problem but i would expect that to give a code and trip the check engine light.

- sort of a shot in the dark but - the PCM will not turn on the fuel pump if the oil pressure is low. if the oil pressure sendy is messin' up when its cold then the PCM wont run the fuel pump. does your oil pressure read properly?

does it run fine other than the cold start issue and are there ANY other problems?

with no SES light ya gotta lean toward a fuel related cause. ever replaced the fuel pump? how many miles on her?

Easiest fix is to buy a storage shed, clean out the garage and don't let the poor car deep freeze every night.

what about the spark plugs...i have removed some pretty nasty plugs out of cars that seem to run just fine....most of the time. the front 4 are very simple the other 4 are a bit of a chore

would a sticking egr valve cause this problem,or would temperature have no effect on the egr..i've suspected for sometime that my egr valve may be sticking ??

Easiest fix is to buy a storage shed, clean out the garage and don't let the poor car deep freeze every night.

What a stupid reply, some people work for a living!!
I have the same problem with my 96, if it sits for the weekend when I'm driving my Ford truck (which starts everytime with no problems) it's a bi%ch to start.

some people work for a living?.......

What a stupid reply, some people work for a living!!
I have the same problem with my 96, if it sits for the weekend when I'm driving my Ford truck (which starts everytime with no problems) it's a bi%ch to start.
have you figured out the cause or any solutions ?

some people work for a living?.......

How the hell do you get to work if your car is in the garage!??!?!?

have you figured out the cause or any solutions ?

No I haven't Big Red, we've had warm weather up till the last couple days, I'll have some friends that are good with cars, I'll talk to them and try some of their recommendations, I'll let you know what I find out!!

A garage door opener!

A garage door opener!

Ok dumb azz... I'll see if they can put up a garage outside work for my junk so it starts!!

Everyone else, that's my last post to the round head Indy!!!

well as expected the temperature got to about 30 degrees and the car woulden't start..tried the following morning,had a extremely difficult time but was able to get it started ?? i tried turning the key to the on position several times,without starting (could hear the fuel pump kick on each time) and it eventually started..could i have received a bad fuel pressure regulator ?? i also heard there's a fuel pressuure SENSOR somewhere on these cars ?? any more ideas ?

a quick test to see if your fuel pressure regulator is good is to remove it and you get a spray of gasoline all over you its holding its pressure if it just comes off with no pressure relief check the parts over to make sure that those o rings are where they should be and are in good condition

no more ideas from me other than a temp fix - how about a block heater or heated dipstick to get you through the winter?

a quick test to see if your fuel pressure regulator is good is to remove it and you get a spray of gasoline all over you its holding its pressure if it just comes off with no pressure relief check the parts over to make sure that those o rings are where they should be and are in good conditionthanks for the reply newscarver...i've checked the fuel pressure regulator in the morning and there's no pressure...if the car sits all night i can remove the FPR in the morning with no spray,no pressure..if the key is turned to the on position or the car has been running,it seems to hold pressure for several hours(i would have to releave the pressure before removing the FPR) is this normal

the pressure would build quickly if there is gas in that bowl, i remember when i changed mine the small o ring seemed smaller than it should have been... and i used the o ring from the one being replaced over again and i had to check it a few times before things were good again...and this mostly had to do with the position of that small o ring, somtimes it would come off and stay in the bowl piece, anyhow the tips i got here helped resolve the trouble...thanks to everyone

UPDATE,,ok everyone,i think i'm getting closer to resolving this problem and would like everyones input again...i had the fuel system pressure checked this afternoon..i'm only getting 15-20 psi (normal psi is between 41-47) my next question is why such low fuel pressure ???

well,i've begun looking into the different possibilities for the low fuel pressure..i pulled the vacuum hose from the FPR..there was NO fuel leakage or fuel order.there also seemed to be plenty of vacuum from the hose..does this mean the FPR is working 100%..as i already stated i replaced the FPR this summer but the long cranking,when warm continued ?? i'm trying to rule out the cheapest possibilities before moving onto the fuel pump.i know there's also a strainer on the pump that sometimes gets clogged with dirt and restricts gas flow.could i have received a defective FPR right from the start..well,i'll let you guys comment..thanks

The FPR actually limits pressure, the worst a bad FPR would do is give you higher pressure. If you have low FPR their can only be a few culprits.

1. Fuel filter
2. Kinked fuel line
3. Blockage before the pump
4. Bad pump.

I would almost for certain say its your pump. I mean clogging can happen but you have a massive fuel pressure drop, blown pump seems like the problem to me.

My Rora was hard starting during the winter. I installed plugs and wires. A fuel filter and FPR. A bottle of STP fuel injector clearner. And after about 3 fill-ups of Shell premium. She would crank right up.I thought about replacing my F pump. When installing my FPF, I didn't put the clip on right. When I started the car fuel shot out under alot of pressure. Pump was fine.

Did you ever resolve this 100%? my 97 has the same problem.