hard to start sometimes...hot or cold

at least once a day my 98 intrigue is hard to start. It turns over and over and i have to hold the key while its sort of "half running" for it to get going. Other times i'll try and it starts perfectly fine. Mechanic told me could be a sign of a headgasket leak but theres no white smoke or sweet smell from exhaust, no loss of coolant and no sign of oil contamination. I do have a code that pops up every couple weeks...I forget the actual code but it is "evap leak detected (small leak)" I clear the code and it doesnt come back for at least a week....it also just passed the fuel system pressure test in Ontario's smog test last week. Im thinking the small leak may cause a sort of loss of prime for the fuel system...making it hard to start. Or fuel filter? Any comments are appreciated.

try the fuel pressure regulator first. They are easy to replace and not very expensive. Pull the vacuum line off the regulator and check for the presence of fuel. The FPR is probably leaking a little, when the car is off, and it takes several seconds of cranking again to build up fuel pressure in the fuel rail. A common problem with GM 3.8s.

try the fuel pressure regulator first. They are easy to replace and not very expensive. Pull the vacuum line off the regulator and check for the presence of fuel. The FPR is probably leaking a little, when the car is off, and it takes several seconds of cranking again to build up fuel pressure in the fuel rail. A common problem with GM 3.8s.


thanks for the reply....ill give that a try tomorrow when the rain stops

Mine was doing something somewhat similar, and I seem to have found a "fix" for it. I pause briefly with the key in the "On" position before cranking and it starts perfect, has for some time now. For the longest time it would occasionally stumble and sputter if it just went straight from "Off" to crank in one quick motion.

Im not sure why it does this, as I used to start it fine with a quick flick of the wrist, but it does work....

yeah, that helps. When you turn your key to "on" that is where the key normally is when the engine is running, therefore the fuel pump is running and building up pressure. If you leave it there for a few seconds before cranking the engine you should have better fuel pressure to fire the engine. I do this usually, but i still have a hard start problem