92 Lumina APV

[Amorris]

My 92 Lumina APV, 3.8L is starting to become hard starting intermittently. Last summer it died and I replaced the ignition control module with a used one, and put on a new crank sensor. That solved the problem. Now sometimes it wants to crank for a few seconds before it fires. This has just started in the past 3 weeks. Sometimes it fires right off hot or cold but sometimes it wants to crank, fire then die and I have to crank it again. I notice it also idles a bit rougher that it has, but not all the time. Maybe putting a used ICM on it wasn't the best way to go, but at $50 compared to $200 for a new one, I opted for used. Is it time for another ICM? Can a code reader detect what is happening when I try to start it and it takes a few seconds to fire? So far it's always started. I did notice 2 days ago, when I came to a stoplight, it idled ok, then sputtered, then was ok. Any help would be appreciated.

[richtazz]

I'd check the fuel pressure regulator first. There may be a small pinhole in the diaphragm that is allowing the fuel pressure to bleed off. If there is raw fuel present in the vacuum line going to the regulator, then it's definitely bad.

[Amorris]

I'll check into that. I did replace the fuel filter a couple nights ago just to be safe. Yesterday, after sitting all night, it fired right off. When I go somewhere, it's hard starting, but not all the time.
When it is hard starting, the engine surges for a few seconds before it levels out.
I'll see if I can get hold of a pressure gauge and maybe that will tell me something.

[Amorris]

Fuel pressure regulator did have gas in the vacuum line. I replaced it but haven't road tested. Hopefully I'll go somewhere tonight and we'll see what happens.