Help!! Extreme Hard Start when Cold

[whitewatermd]

Like the title says. She takes a good 30-45 seconds of cranking before she will kick over. Only happens when she is cold. If i start it up and drive for 5 mins then come back, it will start right up. Any ideas? I just bought the car and have no clue about the history of what has been done to it...

[jlevie]

If the car is a 325e, it could have a bad cold start valve or time/temperature switch. On any car, intake leaks are a common cause of this.

[marakka]

Define cold. Cold as in the engine is cold or cold as in the air temps outside are cold?

When it does start, does it start rough, almost like the car is running out of gas but opposite?

[Kershaw]

come to the car meets on friday. 730pm. college park starbucks near 495.

we can help diagnose this.

does it idle rough?

[whitewatermd]

If the car sits for more than 3 hours, it cranks really long. Its parked outside since my RX8 is in the garage. It does not run rough, if anything, its the smoothest running e30 i have ever been in. Once it finally starts, it runs great...

[E30Gus]

Thermo/time switch which is associated with the cold start injector/valve. Possibly clogged injector. Had same problem, ended up being the injector/valve clogged. AND check the wiring connector to this valve. Sometimes that will be loose and cause it to not fire at all.

[whitewatermd]

Where is the valve located?

[jlevie]

The cold start valve is on the right side of the intake, above the valve cover.

[zshopa]

im having the same problem, did you ever get it startomg?

Btw this is the cold start valve

[whitewatermd]

I followed the Bentley to see if the valve was functioning and it is, but now i cannot find the thermo switch...

[JSWIFT]

Sounds like the one way valve in your fuel pump may be bad and is allowing your fuel to slowly bleed back into the tank. Buy an inline one way valve (dealer should have them or NAPA) and slap it in the supply line near the injector rail. Should fix it.

[apbt_rescue]

whitewatermd: any luck yet on the starting issues? i am in the exact same situation and have replaced the FPR, vac. line to FPR and thermo-time sensor.

JSWIFT: wouldn't a properly working FPR prevent back flow to the tank when the vehicle is off?

Kershaw: i may hit up the starbucks offer in the DC area. i've been wanting to for some time now but keep talking myself out of the idea since my E30 is such a piece o'. i live just southside of DC in PG so if the piece starts i might brave the trip and beg for guidance.