Occasional hard startup issues. Have to gas the car + turn starter to get it going..

[audiquattrot]

Happens every once in a while. Every other time the car will start right up. Bad fuel pump?

[LJ851]

Prob idle control valve.

[audiquattrot]

Prob idle control valve.

wouldn't that give irratic idle at all times? Once I get her started, I gas her up...runs a little rough until its' warmed up + gas smell....then idles fine. The times it starts up ok, the car idles great right from the beginning.

[Sagaris]

It is possible that it is a bad check valve in the fuel pump which allows fuel to run down the line and causes an air pocket in the fuel line.

I have a BMW inline check valve brand new in the packaging if you want to try adding a check valve before replacing the pump.

[OnMy2ndE30]

This happens to me too, but all the time. Every once in a while, it starts normally. All the other times, it takes about 5-10 seconds before it finally fires up. It chugs along until I give it gas and it eventually smooths out, then it idles fine. If I start it a few minutes after shutdown, ie like at the gas station, it starts up but will die right after it starts. I have to give it gas for a few seconds until it will idle on its own. My concern here is that the strong unburnt fuel smell coming out of the tail pipe on cold start is not from fuel starvation, but a rich condition. I am thinking about replacing my fuel pressure regulator and seeing if that helps, then maybe the fuel pump? I have already cleaned the ICV and put a different AFM on the car. I am kinda at a loss. Sorry for the threadjack OP

[SlamedIAm]

Leaking injectors could also be the issue. Your engine could actually be flooded and it isn't that giving it gas is allowing it to start but you're actually clearing it by getting on the throttle. Someone else will have to chime in to give a more technical explanation.

[audiquattrot]

i replaced the fuel filter...and it seemed to have helped a lot. No more smelling of unburnt fuel or weird idle at startup.

Haven't gotten stuck anywhere yet, so thats I guess a good thing. lol.