Hard starting

95 Grand Am SE. 121K Miles. 2.3 Ltr. I don't know why but this car seems to be getting harder to start. Takes quite a few times for it to turn over before she starts up. New plugs, fuel filter, air filter and head gasket {1 yr. ago}. I just don't remember this car starting so hard. Any other ideas? Thanks much.

Could be many things .

If your battery is low, If you have low fuel pressure, dirty injectors, intake manifold vacuum leaks(either loose bolts or hoses bad).

Bad engine grounds, dirty air filter, loose conections in the ignition system, or faulty emission/engine control systems.

Thats some low mileage you have for a 95' :thumbsup:
I have seen 04's with more mileage.

Hope that helps!

I wonder..........would low fuel pressure effect general performance as well as on start up? Because the car runs fine otherwise. No hesitation or lagging. Also there is no engine service light on either. Thanks for the ideas.

Your 95 probly wont trow a code and if it does, the light dosent always get tripped. Especially with body/chassi DTS's.
Would only show with a high quality scann tool...
.... yea the ones that cost 1000$ and up.

The only way to find out if the fuel pumps bad is to test teh fuel pressure, you'll need an adapter gauge kit for this.

What is the pressure suppose to be? Where do you connect to in the fuel line? Also, it seems to be the worst on the initial start up in the morning when it has been sitting over night. Thanks.

FP should be 40-45psi.
You will need to rent or buy the gauge and hose assembly and it'll have to connect to one of your fuel lines. It should come with direction on where and how to hook it up.

But just being a moring thing, do you drive a lot of short trips ?

Coils or ignition module could be causing this too.

You'll just have to do some trouble shooting to narrow it down.
Good Hunting

Bingo on the short trips.......back and forth to work and that's about it with this car. 1.5 miles one way.

I'm getting the fuel pressure test gage this weekend. Now this thing is starting to hesitate on excelleration. Could we be leaning towards the fuel pump? Thanks.

In my Haynes repair manual it talks about checking the fuel pressure by connecting the gage to the Schrader valve on the fuel rail. Where is that located? Thanks.

Well I checked the pressure at the fuel filter. With just "key on" 10lbs. With motor running 20lbs. Can I just replace the motor in the fuel pump and NOT the whole unit? Rockauto.com part number PLEASE! Thanks.

It was the fuel pump. Was able to get just the motor pump. Back on the road!