New fuel filter = hard starts?

[jbmx4life]

I recently replaced the fuel filter on my 1994 base Lumina w/ 3.1. The car has about 190,000+ on it and with gas prices on the rise..... I thought that it was a good idea. Ever since I replaced the fuel filter though, the car has been hard to start (especially when cold). I crank it over for a few seconds and it either doesn't start right away, it will start sound like it is gonna die then rev really high for 15-20sec, or it will start and die. Sometimes it takes 3 or 4 tries to get it started. It started just fine every time before I changed the fuel filter, so what in the world would cause this misbehavior.

P.S. The spark plugs and O2 sensor are also less than 6 months old.

TIA,
J

[jeffcoslacker]

Are you shure the flow direction was correct?

Some used two different fittings so they couldn't be reversed. Some used the same thing on both ends and could be. Don't know which you have.

[randy78]

could just be a coincidence, or the fuel pump may be old and getting very weak and time to replace

check fuel pressure, check the regulator as well

check the mass air flow sensor as well


clean the IAC out real good, all the carbon needs to be cleaned out of the hole in the throttle for it as well

common issues here


good luck

[jbmx4life]

Yes the flow direction is correct as it does have 2 different fittings on it. There is a threaded fitting on one end and a quick connect on the other.

I will go about and check out the rest of the recommendations also.

Still seems weird that it would do it with just a change of the fuel filter though. But like stated, could be coincidence.

Thanks for your responses.

[jbmx4life]

Well I got my problem fixed. I replaced the IAC and cleaned out the passage for it, replaced the fuel filter again, and changed the relay for the fuel pump. All that cost me about $60 and I still had the problem. My dad came over yesterday morning and we messed around with it and decided upon further diagnosis that the fuel pressure regulator was to blame for all of this. Picked up a fuel pressure regulator, intake plenum gaskets, and o-rings for the injectors ($115 worth of parts) and spent a few hours taking it apart and putting it back together. All is well now with the new regulator on there.

Just thought that I would share that so someone else might be able to use it. Seems like there are way too many unfinished threads around here with no end result to how the problem got fixed. Thanks for all of the other prior suggestions and help.

Jeremy