flowmasterchevy

My 91 is getting to where it takes along time to start up. Does anyone else have this problem? I wish i could just reach in and turn it over and it fire off. It takes about 3 times of turning it over for about 3 seconds at a time.Any ideas about what could be ailing it?Fuel Pump?

Z28cross-fire

well mine takes about three seconds to start but it always turns over. try checking to see if it's getting enough gas. flood it, then when you turn the key (it shouldn't sound right when turning it over when flooded) then slam on the gas till it starts and let go of the key, but keep your foot on the gas for another second. that might clear what ever might be glogging the gas from getting to the engine. other then that is it also getting enough air?

Z28cross-fire

Just to clearify that last thing i posted.

1) flood the car
2) try starting the car (it will sound really bad and like it's choking)
3) slam on the gas while you're trying to start it.
4) once it starts keep your foot on the gas and somewhat slowly take you're foot off the gas
5) that should clear anything out if it's glogged

flowmasterchevy

well, it does it every morning like that, thats what got me wondering about the fuel pump going down. It seems as the months pass, the harder it is about starting.. you think that trick will help it? It kinda seems like the fuel is running back to the tank, and takes along time to get to the Throttle body.. It only does this when its cold (Ex. after it has been sitting for hours)

Z28cross-fire

hm... i have no clue then. my car will turn over for about 3 seconds then start, and start right away when it's warmed up. but it sounds like your's has trouble turning over, is that it? i had the same trouble for a while, it would even stall when i'm driving it, and once i accidentally flooded it then cleared it out on start up it never had that problem again.

SchwarzCamaroRS

mine does too and its a decently new motor.. its got less than 15K on it... takes about 3 turns...

RebelRacer

ever heard of replacing a starter? yours is probly worn out, and you'd be surprised how easy somthing starts when its turn about 3 times faster than the old starter. Plus, they are relativly cheap, around $45 for a lifetime garunteed one frome o'riely's.

I think that should fix your starting problem.

Kyle

flowmasterchevy

still got a good starter, already been taken out and tested with another starter. It is a high torque starter.

pizza_guy

Ditto the early morning "laziness". I believe there is some inherent laziness with the TBI setup; however, if it's getting progressivly worse, yeah, ya might be losing something.

Oh, and "lifetime starters" are a joke. I replace my "lifetime" starter bout once a year. Gotten pretty good at it too.
Maybe that's cause I deliver pizza 6 days a week. Ah, well.

Rockyd

have you tried the fuel filter or just a good tune up cant really say your battery but get it checked what do u got to lose

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

Low fuel pressure or tuneup would be the things to check first. TBIs take longer to start after sitting due to the fact that there isnt any fuel or fuel vapors remaining in the intake, so it takes some time for gas to make its way to the cylinders. Pressing the gas pedal all the way to the floor will put the ecm into clear flood mode. Itll go from the crank AFR to 20:1 AFR untill the engine starts. Unless its flooded, you should keep your foot off the gas to avoid engaging the clear flood.

thedogs

Hears what I've read on here on the boards.

We have a wetflow system. so the fuel has to run down the intake into the cylinders first. Most fuel injection has the injectors placed nearer to the cylinders so the start up "feels" different and quicker.

Several people have posted hard startups in the cold because of the there fuel filters behaving differently when the temperture drops as well.

Thats what I've read.
I know where your coming from though because that delay in starting does seem odd. Its a TBI thing though.
New battery and ignition system won't change how quickly the fuel flows down the intake. However it would make it all smoother.
And am I reading your correctly. you turn it over 3 times before it starts??????
I allways turn the ignition to on and give the fuel pump a few seconds to prime.

I've just seen over my avatar I'm now a senior member. COOL

flowmasterchevy

yep, turn the switch on until the pump quits, then turn it over for 3 seconds and let off, let the pump quit, turn it over 3 seconds and quit, turn the switch on and turn it over about 1 or 2 seconds and it fires up..

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

If you just let it crank, does the motor ever catch on its own?

Cadillac

You are still a noobie to me.

(And I a noob to Shifty, JP, etc).

flowmasterchevy

if i just let it crank it takes about 8 or 9 seconds for it to start. dont like letting it keep turning like that, to much wear on the starter..

semiller26

i have the same issue with my TPI newer started and refreshed motor. only it takes my 2 times all day except in the morning when it starts right up.

go figure?

firebirdvert305

well mine takes about three seconds to start but it always turns over. try checking to see if it's getting enough gas. flood it, then when you turn the key (it shouldn't sound right when turning it over when flooded) then slam on the gas till it starts and let go of the key, but keep your foot on the gas for another second. that might clear what ever might be glogging the gas from getting to the engine. other then that is it also getting enough air?

Can u explain to me how u flood a EFI engine?

90RS305

You've still got a little ways to go before you hit your tenyear here bud (yeah, I know, not spelled right...) It's all gravy though

Mine takes a couple second to crank when its cold. Don't think I've ever had a car that doesn't. After it's warmed up I barely even have to bump the starter to get her to fire up. As for the comment about the starter being farely new, just how new is it? Mine wasn't too bad before, but after I swapped it out (about 7 months ago) it made a WORLD of difference! You might want to go that route...

Bruce (90RS305)

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

My jimmy 2.8 TBI and van with the 355 TBI are the same way. Takes either a couple of times or like 10 seconds of cranking to start. It actually starts better when it is cold outside. I turned the fuel pressure way up on both of them so I know they have to be getting adequate fuel. I even ran 305 injectors in the 2.8 for about a week one time.

When my van was carbed I could pump the pedal 2 times tap the key and the engine was running. When it was warm all I had to do was tap the key. Probably didn't even turn a 1/4-1/2 a turn before it would fire off.

thedogs

Hows the car running the rest of the time?
Is it in good tune?
Is there any other indications it's short on fuel pressure/flow?

If it is your starter how do you feel about taking it off just to take a look at the "spindle teeth things on the bit that pokes into the flywheel" . I can't remember what it's called. But you know what mean. The last (and first) starter I changed there was obiviously lots of wear on the teeth. Take it off and give it a look before dumping $150 on a newone.
I'm sure theres a thread here somewhere about it but it's pretty straightforward. Easier than the plugs.

( Caddy I'm about 4mths older than you. I'm your senior you whippersnapper. I can't match your post though

flowmasterchevy

i took the starter off and changed it before, and it did the same problem. The bendix on my starter is still good thedogs. guess ill just live with it lol, little annoying, but atleast it runs lol

jconrad

I too, have been scourged by the same hard starting plague. I installed a fuel pressure gauge and discovered that directly after I prime the fuel pump, the pressure drops back to zero. I am under the assumption that it is the check valve inside the fuel pump assembly that has gone south. I have purchased a new fuel pump for the car (FP reads anywhere from 8-10PSI), but am waiting for a little bit warmer day to start and tackle this project.
I have also heard that if your CTS is going bad, it can cause hard starting, because the sensor is giving the wrong reading to the ECM as far as temperature. I checked mine, and it reads to be working fine.
Not sure if any of this might help, but hey the info was free to me, so why not share it?

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

After looking around on wiring diagrams for my jimmy I found out yesterday that the 3 amp start fuse in the fuse box was blown. The computer never knew to enrich the mixture for cranking.

I then looked at my van and found out that the connection was bad were it joined the factory starter wire.

Turned out that neither one knew that I was trying to start them. Both start with a twist of the key now!!!!

ZZsmpch

iTrader: (1)

I used to have the same issue, but I found a parameter in Tunercat that effected starting. Fiddled with it and presto, fires right up now. I have the def file for TBI still, so I'll check it out and see if TBI has something along those lines too.

Mastiff

Oh man. I just figured out that the crank signal input to my ECM is not even hooked up. I bought a pre-made harness from CustomEFIs and there's not even a wire going to that place on the connector. What was he thinking? Is it considered optional to have the crank signal?

irocbirdbuilder

Guess i'm the lucky one, my sisters 4.3tbi blazer starts slow in the mornings along with my dads 91 suburban, mine fires right up everytime, infact when it was in getting painted it wasnt started for a month and a half and fired right up real fast when we pulled it out, i start it up if the weathers bad every week but it usually ends up being about 2 weeks cause of my schedule and it fires up right when you turn the key, almost scary sometimes,

jconrad

Finally replaced fuel pump...my pressure is maxed out to 13psi now. Takes like 3 cranks before firing when cold, but fires up on first shot after warm now...

Dominic Sorresso

DIM,

Mine needs to be cranked quite a bit when its starting from cold. I can also hear the fuel lines making noise as it seems to "fill up". Once the system is "primed", so to speak, then the motor starts.
If the motor is warm at all, it starts immediately at "key on".

MaroNut383

mine has the same problem , on cold weather starts, it'll take up to 3 times to get it running, on warm weather she starts up like a champ,and lets not get into that stupid heavy gas pedal feel to the adored tbi system....

jimp2001

My car takes a 3 second crank when cold... when warm, or even after I start it and shut it down, I can just tap the starter and it'll fire right up.

Heavy gas pedal? Mine's not heavy. Old BMWs... now thats a heavy pedal.

-Jim

87_CAM_F41

i just found out i have to push on the gas pedal 3 times during the winter, and then i start it, starts instantly....on warm days, i press the gas once

vwdave

My TPI car starts noticeably faster with the MSD Digital 6+. I can damn near bump start it.

GOY

As a 1500 owner, I'm really interested in hearing where you came across that fuse/connection so I can check mine. Kickpanel, or elsewhere?

M1tch

Choke? Sometimes if I dont have it turned over a half second after it fires up it'll turn off.. like it didnt get enough spark..
Does that just how it is? or is it my choke/ spark plugs?

Annihilator

I experience the same thing with my 305 TBI. When cold, it takes around 8-9 cranks to start even when pressurizing the fuel line. This is with a new LT1 starter, AC Delco Freedom battery, new fuel filter, fuel injection service etc. The fuel pump has around 20k on it also but was replaced by a shop so I don't know details. They prolly installed some POS. Any ideas?

jconrad

They most likely replaced it with the same anemic pump. I changed to a higher volume pump, and it has made a world of difference in starting and overall driveability.

What's your fuel pressure reading? Mine was 8-9psi. Now it is 12-13psi