Hard to Start after sitting

b19980610 · #1 10-11-2005, 03:18 PM

2000 Intrigue- If the car has been sitting longer than 5 minutes or so, it is hard to start. Cranks and cranks, but then starts.
Runs just fine. If you stop somewhere and turn it off, then turn it on again, it starts just fine. Any ideas?

panzer dragoon · #2 10-11-2005, 05:12 PM

any engine codes or did the service engine light come on?

CKP sensor?

How long does it take to start? Has the condition gotten much worse or was it always this bad?

b19980610 · #3 10-11-2005, 07:56 PM

Thanks for responding.
Service engine soon light is NOT on. I have an OBDII code reader and it dispays NO CODES.
It just started happening out of the blue. It has not become worse, it was just bad the first time it happened. Only thing different is that I bought gas at a station that I never buy from. But that was 2 fillups ago.

kmohr3 · #4 10-12-2005, 07:15 AM

It's probably your fuel pressure regulator bleeding down. It probably takes several seconds to re-pressurize the fuel rail after this happens. You'd probably notice excessive cranking times followed by slightly rough running for a second or two. Easy enough to check - pull the vacuum hose off the regulator (engine off, after 5 minutes or so) and see if any fuel comes out.

b19980610 · #5 10-12-2005, 02:37 PM

Thanks for the info, this forum is great. Just one more question, where is the fuel pressure regulator and what does it look like?

phewop118 · #6 10-12-2005, 09:57 PM

My Intrigue will do the same thing, but only once in a while. Actually, I've had it do it only twice, where it'll crank and crank, then start, but it starts at a sort of reduced rpm, then kicks up. If I turn it off and try again, it's perfectly fine. I also noticed that when the engine's cold (particulary when it's below 50 degrees F), when I start it, rpms are high (like 1500) at idle and don't drop for a few minutes. I know it should be higher than normal (700), but is that high normal? Once the rpms drop a little, it makes some loud creaks and groans from somewhere in the back of the car and the exhaust "puffs" clouds of steam or "breath," but not oil or coolant. Is this normal?

kmohr3 · #7 10-12-2005, 10:09 PM

Does your car have a 3.5 or a 3.8 liter engine?

phewop118 · #8 10-12-2005, 10:41 PM

It's an 01 gls - 3.5

kmohr3 · #9 10-13-2005, 08:40 PM

the pressure regulator is on the back side of the injector rail - under the engine cover - it will have a vacuum line attached to it

b19980610 · #10 10-14-2005, 02:15 PM

I just want to thank you. These automotive forums are great. Bought a new fuel pressure regulator at AutoZone. $85.00 which seemed kind of high, but it did come with a new filter screen and new o-rings. I can only imagine what the dealer charges.

Replaced the fuel pressure regulator myself this morning. Very much a DIY job. Took about an hour, with about 45 minutes of it trying to get the retainer clamp back on.

Car now starts right up, even after sitting. Thanks again.

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