Hard starting

[BOTTLEFEDCUTLASS]

Hi all! My 96 Aurora is really hard to start. I've replaced plugs and wires and it didn't help a bit! It doesn't mater if it's hot or cold. It just keeps turning over until it finally starts and there is a little grey smoke when it does finally start up. Sometimes it does start right up when it want to. Any ideas?

[griffey]

Sure!

I apologize for asking, but have you had the fuel-line recall done on your vehicle? Auroras came with plastic fuel lines that could (theoretically) crack and start an under-the-hood fire and General Motors issued a recall for all models to fix this problem.

And even if you have had the recall done, I'd suggest going to a dealer (and this is the second time in as many posts that I've said to go to a dealer and I'm *not* a dealer--I'm a computer geek...). Here's why: our 1997 Aurora was having the exact same starting problem, and our "check engine" light was also on as well. I assumed the two were related, and that it was some sort of oxygen sensor situation that could wait until, well, I felt like dealing with it.

(In our case, the light was because I had changed the air filter myself and not plugged in some sort of wire to an air intake sensor or something...).

We had taken our car to a small-town dealer to do the recall for the fuel lines. When I brought the car to a different dealer (for an unrelated problem) he informed me that the engine light was my fault ("whoever changed your air filter last...") and that the recall had not been done correctly and THAT is what was causing the painful starting problem.

Sorry for the long reply--my advice is to go to a dealer and see if a) the recall has been done and/or b) if it has been done correctly.

At worst they will tell you what's wrong.

Good luck!

G.--

[tjm]

Check the fuel pressure regulator; it's the usual culprit. you will find it under the plastic engine cover, at the end of the fuel rail (driver's side, next to the coil pack). If you remove the single vac line and it's damp with gas it needs to be replace for sure. Sometimes it may fail without any leakage and it's a cheap fast fix.

The FPR will usually not trip the check engine light unless it has total failure.