hey guys,on my 86 i get a really long crank time usually more often on first start of the day after a good 8-12 hour cold soak. is this a normal thing on this year,just got car so i dont really know its characteristics.any imput?

 

Believe yours has a cold start injector wonder if it may be functioning or not. Its on the DS of your intake towards the bottom, hasa small metal line running around the backside of the runner.

Maybe someone who has had this issue with an 86 could have more input.

 

Is the fuel pump priming for 2 sec when key turned on?
If not you are waiting for oil pressure to build while cranking and run the fuel pump

 

Two excellent things to check, priming and cold start injector operation.

Well, at least your engine will run, compared to a few other members who are pulling out their hair with no start issues. Consider yourself lucky, LOL

If you turn the key to "on" you should be able to hear the fuel pump energize for 2-3 seconds. If you don't hear that I'd first suspect the Fuel Pump Relay. It's easy to test and replace if necessary.

If you do hear the pump energize but the engine still doesn't quickly start, you can try doing a double prime. "Turn key to "ON" but don't crank the engine. Turn the key to "off" and wait several seconds, then try starting the engine. Fuel system will be getting a second prime when your attempt to start the engine. If it starts right away I'd suspect the Cold Start Injector. This is how I tracked down a CSI problem I had on my 86

The CSI can be removed and visually tested to see what it's doing or not doing.

If none of that works, I'd then do basic tune up tests: plugs, wires and ignition timing.

Keep us posted on how you're making out.

Jake

 

yes i do hear the fuel pump prime,could i be losing fuel pressure during the night and loose prime?

 

i tried the turning of the key twice in the ingnition but the fuel pump only seems to prime once

 

If the above suggestions don't meet with success, you might also check for vacuum leaks, which will lean out your mixture. With engine running, listen for hissing noises, spray carb cleaner anywhere on the intake where there is a joint (including the power brake booster connections), but don't spray on, in or ahead of the MAF. See if idle is affected when you hit each one of these. There are other symptoms of vacuum leaks, but you may not be tuned into those yet since the car is new to you. Good Luck.

 

Don't forget to check for leak down in the fuel rail;- my Fuel Pressure regulator inner bladder/diaphram was shot, so I too had long cranking before starting- 90 L98- replaced the diaphram and it starts much quicker.

 

thats what i was thinking kleantouch....the fuel should stay up to the fuel rail and what i think is happening its flowing back to the gas tank over night....how did you verify that?

 

ok guys,been doing some poking around on my car,come to think of it i am smelling gas sometimes now and cannot find a leak....also i see some puffs of smoke on first start up also,just for a second tho then goes away.....arggggggg lol

 

You just need to wait a little longer to allow the timer to reset, that's all.

Jake

 

Fuel pressure in the system won't hold indefinitely, but for actually how long before it begins to drop probably varies from engine to engine. According to info posted by a CF member recently, he read it should hold steady, without dropping any, for at least 1/2 hour.

A few days ago I checked mine and it held steady at 46 psi for over one hour, which is when I terminated the test. I used my ACCEL fuel pressure gage to run the test.

And, yes, the fuel has to be returning to the tank. If it was getting dumped into the intake I'd be seeing a rich condition/smoke/fouled spark plugs, etc., which I don't. If dripping on the floor/ground I'd see evidence of that, too. So through the process of elimination fuel has to be draining back to the tank.

Jake

 

Fuel pressure regulator is more than likely leaking. Allows gas to be pulled into manifold thru vacuum line. On start up you will smell raw gas and have smoke. Pull vacuum line and check for gas. If present replace regulator.

 

If it only does it after it sits a long time you might have a leaking fuel injector(s). If it has long crank time all the time, I would look at either the fuel pump (check valve), the pulse damper(the little part connected to the fuel pump) or the fuel pressure regulator. There are plenty of threads that describe the method for checking which part is bad. Just do a search.
Sounds like a leaking fuel injector

 

well the service engine soon light came on today so i gotta scan it and somthing else weird is happening...when i punch the gas it feels like it ran out of gas for a second like a hesitation then takes off.... hmmmm

 

ok today when i got gas,i was taking gas cap off and there was so much presure in the tank i thought it was gunna shoot off...isnt that cap supposed to be vented?

 

Get yourself a fuel press. test gauge & tell use what the readings are when its running & off.

 

will do thank you

 

i went to the parts store today and they had the diaphram kit,should i buy that or buy the whole regulator? i saw a adjustable one also...should i get that one?

 

No, I don't believe the gas caps on the C4 are vented. I usually can hear a vaccuum when I remove my gas cap.