ok, so the mechanic across the way from me seems to think i might have a leaky injector and then whenever i start my car up it has to burn off the excess fuel before it starts and thats why it cold starts. But i think it is probably the ignition because when my car sits for a long time (like 8 or 9 hours long) or after i just turn it off then go into a 7-11 and then come back out, it starts right up. But any time in between those two, it takes quite a while to start. It is actually pretty embarassing because sometimes it will take upwards of like 3 or 4 seconds. It is turning over, you can hear the engine, it just doesnt fire until a while. Anyone think they might know what it is, let me know thanks.

 

Have you tried a spark checker to see if you have no spark? Also, you will need a fuel pressure gauge and adapter to fit your car to see if car is holding fuel pressure between starts. It should maintain some risidual pressure for at least 10 - 15 minutes after shut down. If not, you have to isolate where it losing pressure. This can be accomplished by installing gauge, turn key on, wwait for pressure to rise, then clamp off return line and see if pressure drops immediately. If so, either fuel injector leaking down or check valve in fuel pump is bad. Can further isolate injector by clamping off both fuel lines after turning on key and if pressure drops then, it is injector. As to which one, that is where the problem lies in, if you have no injector pulse generator, you will have to pull them out for inspection.

 

Im having a very similar problem in my 86 (very frustrating....just finished replacing the water pump. You would think i could go two weeks without having a problem.) The fuel lines are metal. How would I 'crimp' them to isolate the leak?

 

If you follow the metal lines down, you will see that there are rubber lines each about 8 to 12 inches long in order to allow for engine torque, else you would be breaking fuel lines all the time for being to rigid. That is where I was referring to when crimping lines. Be careful crimping, I think KD makes a smooth jaw crimping tool as to not chew up fuel lines.