2002 3800 V-6 starts hard

[1Bradymichael]

I just recently bought this car and it has been running fine, but today it started acting up when I try to start it. Sometimes it will start fine, but most of the time it will take two or three tries. It runs fine once I get it going, but I was curious if someone has run into this problem. One thought I had was maybe a fuel pressure regulator? I just changed the fuel filter the other day, and ran some injector cleaner through the tank as well.

Thanks for any help.

[maxwedge]

Check for fuel in the hose to the regulator first.

[1Bradymichael]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Check for fuel in the hose to the regulator first.

I took the vaccum line off and it was damp by the little rubber elbow, and also damp up where it goes into the throttle body, so it's safe to asume it's leaking by the diaphram in the regulator?

Does one replace this regulator by removing the snap ring that holds the top portion in place?
Otherwise it looks like it is pretty much all one piece along with the fuel rail.

[maxwedge]

Is this dampness fuel? My 2003 Buick K engine the reg is part of the rail, if yours come off in that manner you are lucky.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by 1Bradymichael

Does one replace this regulator by removing the snap ring that holds the top portion in place?.

That is correct. Just remove the c-clip/snap ring and then pull up on the fuel pressure regulator to get it out of the fuel rail. Once removed it will look like in the pic below.

[1Bradymichael]

The dampness is fuel, so it must be leaking by the regulator. There is definitly a snap ring there, so that will make life a litte easier. These are not cheap though from what I have seen online.

[1Bradymichael]

Stuck a new fuel reg. in and it starts like it should. No sputtering or repeated tries. Thanks for the help guys!

One thing I will add here. Make sure you take the old o-ring out of the reg. body. Mine wanted to stay in, and I did not realize it until I could not get the new regulator pushed down far enough. Took the old one out and it went in as it should.