Car taking a few tries to start up- help!

[Magicboy2]

Every once in a while (more frequently lately, it seems), my '94 is taking a few tries to start.

The starter is definately turning over the motor, and it's definately firing up, but then it promptly dies, as if the idle air control wasn't catching at all. When this happens, it takes three or four more tries before the engine stays on. When the engine does stay on, the car runs fine after that.

Also on such occasions, when the car finally does start, there's a very strong odor of gasoline.

Becuase the engine definately turns over right away (before it stalls), and then also turns right over on subsiquent attempts, I'm fairly certain it's not the battery or the starter. Also, since it's done this on several occasions on different tanks of gas, I'm ruling out bad gas as the issue.

Car is a '94 with about 20k miles, and just last month got a clean checkup from the dealer. Any guesses before I fork over my $250 deductible for a service visit?

 

[HP]

Did you check for trouble codes?
What condition are your plugs and plug wires?- pull one or two and check.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Check valve in the fuel pump is letting the gas drain back to the tank which is not normal. Try this turn the key to the run position which starts the fuel pump (do not start the car yet). wait a few seconds the turn the key off. do this twice and then on the third time start the vehicle normally and it should fire right up on the first crank. If it does the fuel pump assembly is going as should be replaced. Unless you want to do this same procedure every time you want to start the car. What is happening on the first couple cranks of the car right now is the fuel lines are filling back up. Over the course of time it will drain back sooner and sooner and you will have to refill the lines even after sitting less than a couple hours before it will refire.

 

[MHQC]

let us know how this works out Matt.

take care

 

[99 R/T 10]

Do you hear the fuel pump prime before you turn over the engine? To check if it may be the fuel pump, cycle the key on and off 3-4 times, then crank it over. If it catches, that would be the problem, but don't know about the gas smell. I had a fuel pump replaced under warranty for this reason(pressure bled off), not a job I would want to tackle. Good luck,

 

[RX VIPER]

I just went thru this on my '96 last week. A new fuel pump at the dealer is $530. It's also about a 3 hour install- or at least that's what the dealer charged me for. Good luck.

 

[RX VIPER]

Just realized you have a RT/10. The fuel pump is even more difficult to get to on yours. May want to figure in 4 hours to fix.

 

[HP]

Since this thread has went the direction of fuel pump, I'm wondering,
maybe I'm the only one to focus on the "strong smell of gasoline"
In my book that's flooded- from too much gas, not enough air, or plugs not firing. Of course I could be missing something, wouldn't be the first time.

 

[99 R/T 10]

Hugh,
That confused me too . When my fuel pump was on the way out, there WAS NO stong smell of fuel. Weird.

Mike

 

[Magicboy2]

Thanks for the responses- I'll try the ignition cycling next time it acts up. Beyond that, might have to spring for new plugs and wires.

I'll let you all know how it works out,
thanks again.