Long starts

[Lyle's GTP]

My girl friend's car has trouble starting. It's a 1998 Malibu LS with a 3100 in it. Any way it sometimes takes several seconds of cranking before it starts. sometimes It kind if stumbles too while you're cranking as if it were trying to fire but then not, lack of fuel, flooded? I don't know. Cranks strong and fast, new battery so that's not the issue.

Please help, thanks.

Lyle

[gpse3400]

I'd check the fuel pressure...Unless you use that newer style GM fuel pump which then I don't know if the same test procedures apply. You run th efuel pump and check th epressure, it should hold at or above 40 psi. if it drops right after the pumps stops then either the regulator, pulsator or pump. To test the regulator pinch the return line shut. Pressure should rise and hold(checking for fuel in the vacuum fitting and line is a gimme that the regulator is shot.). If not then the problem is in the gastank. This is all assumeing it runs fine after it's started and starts quick when its hot.

[Lyle's GTP]

I doesn't start quick when hot or cold. Temperature seems to have nothing to do with it.

Lyle

[gpse3400]

Usually long starts have somthing to do with fuel system most times. If the car runs fine after the start then I'd definately be looking at the fuel delivery. Especially if you do not have any codes. The best way to Diag this is with a tech manual simply because it could really be a number of things. More often than not, hard starts is a problem with fuel delivery....