Cold Starting problems 1992 Camaro RS

I'm having a strange problem that I hope I can get some help on. When try to start my car, it will crank and crank but not start until I see my oil pressure gauge move up and register pressure. Once the engine is warm, I have no problems starting. I fires right up. But when the engine has a chance to cool down... the same problem. Is this an ignition issue or a fuel issue? I'm afraid I'm going to burn up my starter waiting for oil pressure to register. :banghead:

maybe your oil pressure has always done that but only noticed because of the problem. Unless your car has a saftey mechanism for low oil pressure like Cadillac's and some others.

You can prime your fuel pump and listen for it to work by turning the key to run.
If you have a fuel pressure gauge, use it or maybe get one so you can see exactly what the fuel pressure is. Then you can fix or eliminate the fuel.

I had a customer with a 99 Seville STS recently that did the same thing. If you held the key forward for a while it would eventually start. The car wouldnt hold fuel pressure at all when off or key in run. When starting psi was a 0. then it would slowly rise to 40psi and start. Ended up having to change the fuel pump. The injectors didnt leak and everything alse was fine.

You can have the coil tested if you havent done the backyard test already. Backyard test:Pull off a spark plug wire and hold it a 1/4" away from any metal on the motor and see if you get spark from the boot to the metal. Oh yeah it takes two people to do this or a remote start(not the remote start permanently installed in the dashboard).

But I dont think a bad coil can have starting issues only when its cold

Is your check engine light on? Has it ever came on and went off? cause the pcm will store those codes untill they're erased

It sounds like a weak spark/improper timing issue.

thank a lot... I'll give those suggestions a try. :thumbsup:

I aslo drink beer for food Mr. Wright:cheers:

third gens have a oil pressure safety switch. this prevents the engine from running when there is no/little oil pressure.

try replacing the switch, its either attached near the oil filter or on the rear section of the engine. it's a small black cylindrical looking thing with a connector going into it. dont forget teflon tape.

what is your oil pressure when the car is running? ... cold and hot?

if its less than 20psi then you might have a bad main bearing or rod bearing.... or going bad... causing some pressure bleed off. (seems unlikely though)

third gens have a oil pressure safety switch. this prevents the engine from running when there is no/little oil pressure.

Nope, that isn't what it is for. The oil pressure switch is a second way to turn on the fuel pump, if the relay goes bad. If the relay quits working, as you crank the engine over it builds oil pressure and once it reaches 7 PSI the switch closes and sends power to the fuel pump. If you get in an accident and the engine quits running, the ECM takes a ground away from the relay and that shuts off the pump. And if the relay wasn't working anyway, once oil pressure drops below 7psi, the pump will shut off.

Nope, that isn't what it is for. The oil pressure switch is a second way to turn on the fuel pump, if the relay goes bad. If the relay quits working, as you crank the engine over it builds oil pressure and once it reaches 7 PSI the switch closes and sends power to the fuel pump. If you get in an accident and the engine quits running, the ECM takes a ground away from the relay and that shuts off the pump. And if the relay wasn't working anyway, once oil pressure drops below 7psi, the pump will shut off.


Hmm...sounds like you said the same thing I said, but added that the switch can turn the FP on also.

We both said the oil press. saftey swtich will shut the engine off (fuel pump) when there is no oil pressure.

So it sounds like your saying his fuel pump relay is probably bad.

So, exordguy, since the switch is apparently an alternate way to turn on the fuel pump, you should probably replace the fuel pump relay first...because that would mean the oil pressure safety switch is working.

Hmm...sounds like you said the same thing I said, .
Not really. As long as the pump relay is working the oil pressure switch doesn't affect the pump. If for some reason the relay quits and there IS oil pressure, it will run the pump. It isn't a "safety" item, just another way to run the pump in the event the relay quits.