Not your average starting problem

[vr2jetta]

Ok, car runs excellent. Starts up fine, but every now and then it takes a little longer to start. It will take 4-5 turns to start up normally, and every so often it takes 12-15 turns to start. I noticed it does it more so when its warm, never when its cold, usually after a short period of time stopping, like getting gas, stopping at the store. The car is turned off for maybe 2-5 minutes.

I just did the head. When doing the head I replaced the FPR, fuel pump with a walbro 255, fuel filter, new plugs/cap/rotor, new air filter, new CTS, "clean" cat. There are no vacuum leaks that I can tell, most of them were replaced too. ISV and AFM are clean. The plug under the intake for the CTS and injectors has been cleaned too.

I am about to drive this car 1000 miles when I move next month and I want to make sure this is going to make it. Thanks.

[Danny]

Starter is on its way out.

Its getting too hot and doesn't work properly.

[vr2jetta]

It doesnt turn over weak, it just takes longer to start.

[Danny]

Ahh.

Nevermind then. My friend with an e36 had a problem like this on hot days, he'd poor a bottle of water over the starter and it would start right up.

[vr2jetta]

Ahh.

Nevermind then. My friend with an e36 had a problem like this on hot days, he'd poor a bottle of water over the starter and it would start right up.

Thanks for the input though.

I was thinking maybe the fuel pressure was dropping and causing the pump to have to re-pressurize the system, but I dont know why it wouldnt do it sitting overnight but do it right after shutting the engine down and re-starting it. Again, it doesnt do it all the time, just once every 2-3 days.

[foofopps]

I have the same intermittent problem with my 87 325is, it seems fuel related, I just put new plugs in and had replaced the fuel pump and filter which did not fix the problem. I say it seems fuel related because if I give it a little gas while it is turning over it starts up more quickly. Im thinking its the fuel pressure reg but don't want to replace more unnecessary parts (like the fuel pump which was fine). Have you figured out the problem?

[Philo]

Mine does the same thing. It doesn't bother me, so I haven't fixed it. Mine happens similar to the OP but only after I have driven it hard and then gone back to start it. I like giving it some gas on start-up; it makes me feel like i'm driving a real car. :)

[nickpdx]

Same exact problem here, under the same circumstances. I'm also pretty sure it's fuel related, probably FPR...I'm about to replace it and see if it takes care of the issue. It'll be hard to tell for a while though because it occurs very intermittently. Seems to happen more frequently if I'm parked on a slight incline too - if the front of the car is higher than the rear.

[bejbis]

In the tank there is a coupling that connects the fuel pump to the fuel line. It's just a sleeve with a couple of orings. After a while this connection will loosen and cause the pressure to drop in the lines and rail. I'd bet this is your prob. Could be fpr, but I'd bet on the connector in the tank.

-Dan

[allwheeldrive]

I've got the same issue. I can't tell for sure if its a fuel issue or maybe spark. Smells rich when it does finally fire back up. I'm kinda wondering if its not a MAF issue or possibly spark (coil only thing not new on my car).

[vr2jetta]

In the tank there is a coupling that connects the fuel pump to the fuel line.
-Dan

I just did the walbro pump like in the write-up you made, so I am pretty sure that is all good. It has a new FPR so that cant be it. The only thing I havent changed since I had the car (about 4 months) is the plug wires. I think I will change them and see what happens. There is some sort of inductive sensor in there that may be the problem but I am not sure. The wires need changed anyway.

Same exact problem here, under the same circumstances. I'm also pretty sure it's fuel related, probably FPR...

I have a brand new FPR.

because it occurs very intermittently.

Mine too, its driving me crazy!

[foofopps]

I ponied up and payed the dealer $55 for spark plugs, the problem has happened since but its been gone for a while, knock-on uncracked dash. Im hoping it was a combo of bad gas and the PO using bosch plat +4 plugs. But time will tell. If anyones replaces the FPR and gets results post em.

[vr2jetta]

knock-on uncracked dash.

LOL!!

I If anyones replaces the FPR and gets results post em.

I have a brand new FPR and still does it.




Anyone have new spark plug wires with this problem still? These are the only thing I havent replaced and think it might be that. Not the wires themselves but the inductive sender on the one wire I am wondering about.

[bejbis]

Anyone have new spark plug wires with this problem still? These are the only thing I havent replaced and think it might be that. Not the wires themselves but the inductive sender on the one wire I am wondering about.

doubt its the plug wires, the inductive sensor just tells the ecu to fire the injectors 3 at a time vs all 6 in batch fire at the same time.

it could be leaky fuel injectors losing pressure, sometimes. kinda doubt it though, as its not like injectors would only leak sometimes.

my car does it sometimes, maybe once a month. no rhyme or reason it seems, it does not seem to care if the car was shut off for 10 min or 10 hours. with how the fuel pump works as it only energizes when the engine is turning, i bet you could wire up the pump to turn pump for a second or two to pressurize the system before you actually start the car and it wouldn't happen.

btw, good to hear someone used my writeup on the fuel pump. give me a call if you need any parts before you move. there are 8 or so e30's at the yards over my way if you need anything.

-Dan

[vr2jetta]

btw, good to hear someone used my writeup on the fuel pump.
-Dan

Reading that gave me the confidence I need to do a retrofit fuel pump.

there are 8 or so e30's at the yards over my way if you need anything.

-Dan

Well, are there any with decent emblems? I need hood and trunk emblems. I also need a glove box latch. Are they all Diving boards? I need a lower front valance for a plastic bumper, along with a rear plastic bumper and brackets. Power antenna? Argg....the list goes on!