2002 regal 3800 cranks a while before starting

[capitalv]

My 02 Regal cranks for about 5 seconds or so before starting. The motor seems to run and idle fine after starting. I recently replaced the fuel filter and had a new catalitic converter replaced. The car has 100k miles on it. There are no diagnostic lights on in the dash. I only owned it for about a year so I don't know any previous service done on this vehicle. The key doesn't want to come out often when I turn off the car. I don't know if the two things are related or not. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[BNaylor]

Check the fuel pressure at the Schrader valve located at the front rail. Possibilities are the fuel pressure regulator or the check valve located in the fuel pump assembly.

The key release issue and long crank time are not related.

[capitalv]

Originally Posted by capitalv

My 02 Regal cranks for about 5 seconds or so before starting. The motor seems to run and idle fine after starting. I recently replaced the fuel filter and had a new catalitic converter replaced. The car has 100k miles on it. There are no diagnostic lights on in the dash. I only owned it for about a year so I don't know any previous service done on this vehicle. The key doesn't want to come out often when I turn off the car. I don't know if the two things are related or not. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

What should the fuel pressure be. Thanks again!

[BNaylor]

48-55 psi at fuel pump prime. Ignition to ON and pumps primes for a few seconds. With engine running lower depending on vacuum on or off at the fuel pressure regulator (FPR) . But nothing less than around 42 psi. Fuel pressure will be higher with the vacuum line disconnected at the FPR.

[richtazz]

Look for raw fuel in the vacuum line to the FPR as you're checking things, asthat would be a definite indicator of a bad FPR.

[capitalv]

Thanks for the tip. Is the FPR located on the fuel rail and what does it look like?

[BNaylor]

The FPR looks like this. Located on the front fuel injector rail. Mounts into a bracket. Help by one snap ring retainer. The vacuum line is visible in the pic. See pics below.

[capitalv]

I feel really stupid kind of. Just for the hell of it I pulled a plug to check it and it looked fine. I hooked up a fuel pressure guage at the fuel rail and the fuel pressure was good also. I went to a local mechanic to pick his brain and he wanted me to bring the car in for diagnostic. When I went back home I found I left the key on and the battery was totally dead. I was gone a half hour tops. It was a AC Delco battery and figured it was original. I went to Oreilly's to buy another battery. The car fires right up and the key comes out of the ignition every time also. About 2 months ago I had the battery checked and said it checked good. I also checked the alternator and it checked good also. So moral of the story, try another battery if you have similar trouble. Thanks guys for all the help, I learned alot from your reply's.