2000 Passport has intermittent hard start

[Mowzer]

Thanks. I was able to find a company in New Jersey which claimed it was in stock for $59.78 with free shipping. Hopefully I can receive it next week and get it replaced. Of course, there's no guarantee that the Fuel Pressure Regulator was the problem and I may be replacing for nothing. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for the help!

[rodeo02]

Mowzer, this might be a long-shot, but it could be worth your while to try to locate an isuzu dealership willing to look at your passport for you. An isuzu dealership will likely be WAY more familiar with your re-badged 'zu than any honda dealer. There's gotta be a better way then guessing & throwing new parts at your truck .
G/luck
Joel

[Mowzer]

Well, here's an update. Vehicle was in the repair shop today. They just replaced the fuel filter and the fuel pressure regulator.

One interesting note, they found water in the gas tank. I did notice the problem seemed to occur more when it rained or there was a high dew point. I just figured since it is almost Winter, that it was just coincidence and the part was just failing more often (nothing to do with weather).

Of course, it still may be unrelated. I do regularly get gas at a local USA station, but hopefully I'm not receiving bad gas. The cap was checked, and it fits tightly. I guess another possibility may be a small crack in the fuel filler neck? I'm not sure how much water they found, but I would think if I had much water in the tank, then it would run roughly, which it wasn't.

Anyway, they put some additive in the tank to remove the water and recommended I do the same every other oil change.

I'll keep you posted if the problem is fixed.
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Update: Next morning after vehicle returned it failed again :-(. Same old story, cranks fine, won't start. Two Hundred dollars later, I can rule out the Relay, the Fuel Pressure Regular, and the Fuel Filter. I've only had the car a few months and I hate it! I'd sell it, but will lose tons of money selling as is.

My plan now is to save some more money (even though it took me a couple years to save the cash for this one), and sell as is. I just hope I don't get stuck between now and when I get rid of it. Should be some kind of Lemon Law for used cars. I feel as I just lost $15,000 and the car has been in the shop more than the road.

Unless anyone else has an inexpensive suggestion, this car is on it's way out! (BTW: The Crank Shaft Position Sensor was mentioned as a possible cause, but I was quoted over $1000 for the repair, too much to spend for not a sure thing).
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Just out of curiosity, if the vehicle starts easier if the gas petal is pushed when cranking, what type of problem would this indicate?

Thanks!

[crapsport]

I have a 99 Passport that does the same thing (among many other problems). Dealer told me it was my manifold gasket - needs to be replaced. Mine was doing the hard start for months before the check engine light came on.

[hav2use]

I had the same issue with my 2000 Rodeo 3.2 and replaced the fuel pressure regulator and didn't fix the problem. I then cleaned out the egr and it started fine since then.

hope this helps

[Taraneh]

My 98 passport has also had trouble starting and has even died while I was driving it a few times! It cranks but doesn't catch. It has a check engine code p1133 too! I took it to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch for $175 and said that there was no history of the code. Now my car is still doing the same thing! They told me that I need to replace the wireharness for $660. I don't trust them because I just paid $175 to fix the problem and nothing has changed!

Just a bit of history, I have changed so many parts on this car already! Here is the list: ignition switch, fuel pump and relays, radiator, alternator, intake gasket, and the battery.

I need help I have no idea what to do!!

[trooperbc]

Originally Posted by Taraneh

.... It has a check engine code p1133 too! I took it to the dealer and they replaced the ignition switch for $175 and said that there was no history of the code. ...

what did they mean? that's they don't know what the code is, or that they don't have any experience with that code? did they say what the code is?