2000 Intrigue, difficult starting when warm

[fhofstra]

Hello -
My 2000 Intrigue GLS has always started great. Lately, if it has been started and is still warm, it starts harder. I have to crank the engine for 5 - 6 seconds, and hold the accelerator down. It then starts ok, revs a bit since I had the accelerator down, and settles down to good idling and running. If it is cold, it starts OK. If it is warm, and only off for a few minutes, it also starts OK. The difficult starting is only if the engine has been off for more than a few minutes.
Based on other posts, I wondered if it might be the fuel pressure regulator, but if that were the case, wouldn't the car also start hard when cold, since the FPR would have had all night to lose pressure? Or could it still be the FPR, because the cold-start conditions (like rich mixture) make up for the pressure loss?
Thanks for any suggestions.

[alejmr]

what I woukd do in the 1st place is monitor your fuel pressure, you can DIY and is't inexpensive, you just need a gauge, if there's no pressure, then we can move from there..... any codes? any SES lights?

[RUIntrigue'd]

I'm having a similar problem with my '02, but it's occuring cold, warm, sat overnight or just a few minutes. Sometimes it'll start then die right away(crank again and it starts ok), other times it will crank longer than normal before it runs. Almost sounds flooded, but no gas smell. I checked the fuel pressure, key on engine off, 40 psi for a few seconds then drops back to 35 and holds there for at least 5 minutes. Engine running, 35 psi@ idle, crack the throttle and it goes up to about 38. Shut engine off, pressure holds at 30 psi for at least 5 minutes. No SES light ever(except when key on, engine off), but not sure if no codes as I don't have the GM cable for my OBDII software. I checked the battery cable connections, clean and tight, good body ground. Battery voltage is 12.6, 14.4 to 14.8 engine running. I also opened up the engine compartment fuse block and removed and replaced all the fuses and relays. Seemed to start normally after that, but time will tell. Might also be the ignition switch.

[fhofstra]

I found some fuel in the FPR vacuum line, replaced the FPR, and think the problem is solved.
To troubleshoot this problem and for the future, I bought an Actron 7818 fuel pressure gauge. Took a while because the packaging says "GM 1984 through 1996", and I had to email/call Actron and wait for a reply to see if the gauge is OK on a 2000. Turns out it is.
Fuel pressure reads as 35 psi when the engine is running. The warm starting problems appear to be resolved.
Some other issues have resurfaced, but I will start a new thread for that.
Thanks again.