My dad will turn the key and everything cranks and turns fine, but it has trouble actually firing up.

This morning it took him 4 cycles of holding the key on for 8-10 seconds before it finally started.

Well, an engine needs spark and fuel to run, right?

Let me guess... I need to check the coil packs and fuel pressure?

How can I do that?

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Current: '12 Audi S4 Quattro Prestige 6MT

Previous: '06 Audi S4 Quattro 6MT (for sale!)
'06 Chevy Cobalt SS, Stage II: 2.0L Supercharged, 16psi boost, G85 Package; Recaro Racing Seats, Limited Slip Differential, 5 Speed Manual
'00 Pontiac Bonneville SE ( 4 years, 197,000 miles)
'99 Dodge Intrepid ES (1 year, 2 engines)
'95 Chevy Lumina (2 years, 164,000 miles)

Year? Engine? First things we need to know!

_________________
2012 Grand Cherokee Overland Summit - Hemi
1996 Thunderbird LX - 3.8

2000

4.3L

_________________
Current: '12 Audi S4 Quattro Prestige 6MT

Previous: '06 Audi S4 Quattro 6MT (for sale!)
'06 Chevy Cobalt SS, Stage II: 2.0L Supercharged, 16psi boost, G85 Package; Recaro Racing Seats, Limited Slip Differential, 5 Speed Manual
'00 Pontiac Bonneville SE ( 4 years, 197,000 miles)
'99 Dodge Intrepid ES (1 year, 2 engines)
'95 Chevy Lumina (2 years, 164,000 miles)

Non Bonneville-Topic moved. Carry on.

_________________
2016 Dodge Charger Scat Pack 392
3.09's 8 Speed Auto
04 GTP

1. Check fuel pressure (need fuel pressure gauge, harbor freight might be a good place to look)
2. Check coil resistance (just set ohmmeter, and cross the terminals)
3. When was the last tune up done? (i.e. air filter, plugs, wires, fuel filter, pcv, maf cleaned, etc)

and how many miles are on it?

_________________
John
Now: '15 Toyota Prius III | 134 hp 2ZR-FXE | Silver | 36k
Now: '03 Honda CR-V AWD | Slow 4-Cylinder | Dirt | 180k
Then: '07 Ford Fusion SEL | 221hp Gen I VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Tungsten Silver | 150k
Then: '99 Toyota Avalon XL | 200hp 1MZ-FE 3.0 V6 | Diamond White | 189k | Sold: July 2015
Then: '11 Ford Fusion SEL | 240hp Gen II VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Ingot Silver | 84k | Totaled: Oct 23 '14 (Rear-Ended)
Then: '96 Buick Park Avenue Ultra | 240hp Series II L67 | Medium Dark Lichen | Bought: JAN 11 @ 135k | Accident: FEB 3 '12 | Crushed: MAR 1 '13 @ 153K
Then: '98 Pontiac Bonneville SSE | 205hp Series II 3800 L36 | Topaz Firemist | Bought: NOV '09 @ 74k | Accident: MAY 28 '10 | Crushed: MAR 15 '11 @ 84k
Then: '93 Pontiac Bonneville SE | 170hp Series I 3800 L27 | Dark Yellow Green | Bought: JULY '07 @ 92k | Sold: JULY '12 @ 118k
Then: '89 Pontiac Bonneville LE | 165hp 3800 LN3 | Medium Garnet Red | Bought: JAN '05 @ 117k | Sold: SEP 30 '07 @ 152k

We got it in May, haven't done much of a tune up to it, athough it runs great. Doesn't get the best MPG's though.

Is this the tool I am looking for?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=92699

_________________
Current: '12 Audi S4 Quattro Prestige 6MT

Previous: '06 Audi S4 Quattro 6MT (for sale!)
'06 Chevy Cobalt SS, Stage II: 2.0L Supercharged, 16psi boost, G85 Package; Recaro Racing Seats, Limited Slip Differential, 5 Speed Manual
'00 Pontiac Bonneville SE ( 4 years, 197,000 miles)
'99 Dodge Intrepid ES (1 year, 2 engines)
'95 Chevy Lumina (2 years, 164,000 miles)

If it is a Vortec 4.3L it will require 60 psi of fuel pressure to start. If it has any less, it will have hard starting. If it is 55 or less, it may not start at all. If that is the case, replace the fuel pump.

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Needs more blower whine!

What's the mileage? Knowing that will help determine the fate of that pump (assuming it's never been replaced).

_________________
2012 Ford Fusion SEL, 2012 Chrysler Town & Country, 2007 Chevy Silverado LT, 1999 Pontiac Firehawk, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am

115,000 Miles.

_________________
Current: '12 Audi S4 Quattro Prestige 6MT

Previous: '06 Audi S4 Quattro 6MT (for sale!)
'06 Chevy Cobalt SS, Stage II: 2.0L Supercharged, 16psi boost, G85 Package; Recaro Racing Seats, Limited Slip Differential, 5 Speed Manual
'00 Pontiac Bonneville SE ( 4 years, 197,000 miles)
'99 Dodge Intrepid ES (1 year, 2 engines)
'95 Chevy Lumina (2 years, 164,000 miles)

Yeah, you're definitely looking at a lot of different scenarios there as far as reasoning for the hard starting, but with those kinda miles, I'd bet on fueling. Fuel filter is probably a huge problem if it hasn't been done in the past 20k miles, and especially bad if it hasn't been done in the last 50k. Even if the pump is good...but around that mileage, it is probably going to fail sooner than later unfortunately.

SO, things on my list would be
Fuel Pressure (fuel filter, leaking/weak/failing FPR, semi-clogging injectors (run concentrated seafoam mix in the gas), failing fuel pump)
Tune up items (improperly gapped/excessively worn plugs, degrading wires, clogged air filter, excessive buildup in throttle body and crud on MAF sensor...and its almost a certainty that its oxygen sensor is original and absolutely needs replacing)

_________________
John
Now: '15 Toyota Prius III | 134 hp 2ZR-FXE | Silver | 36k
Now: '03 Honda CR-V AWD | Slow 4-Cylinder | Dirt | 180k
Then: '07 Ford Fusion SEL | 221hp Gen I VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Tungsten Silver | 150k
Then: '99 Toyota Avalon XL | 200hp 1MZ-FE 3.0 V6 | Diamond White | 189k | Sold: July 2015
Then: '11 Ford Fusion SEL | 240hp Gen II VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Ingot Silver | 84k | Totaled: Oct 23 '14 (Rear-Ended)
Then: '96 Buick Park Avenue Ultra | 240hp Series II L67 | Medium Dark Lichen | Bought: JAN 11 @ 135k | Accident: FEB 3 '12 | Crushed: MAR 1 '13 @ 153K
Then: '98 Pontiac Bonneville SSE | 205hp Series II 3800 L36 | Topaz Firemist | Bought: NOV '09 @ 74k | Accident: MAY 28 '10 | Crushed: MAR 15 '11 @ 84k
Then: '93 Pontiac Bonneville SE | 170hp Series I 3800 L27 | Dark Yellow Green | Bought: JULY '07 @ 92k | Sold: JULY '12 @ 118k
Then: '89 Pontiac Bonneville LE | 165hp 3800 LN3 | Medium Garnet Red | Bought: JAN '05 @ 117k | Sold: SEP 30 '07 @ 152k

Some of the most common failures on the 4.3 CSFI is the Injector unit (AKA the Spider), FPR, and the fuel pump. Also another one is the LIM gaskets are made of the same material as the 3800 LIM gaskets, and they are wafer thin and are VERY prone to failure.

As with John saying, if you haven't done a tuneup, do it. Do the cap, rotor, (coil IS recommended, because I know they fail often), plugs, wires, PCV, clean the MAF, remove and clean the TB, Fuel filter, and replace the 2 primary O2 sensors. If none of that fixes it, you may have one of the problems I mentioned in the 1st paragraph.

_________________
2012 Grand Cherokee Overland Summit - Hemi
1996 Thunderbird LX - 3.8

Although a tune up is very beneficial to any vehicle, I wouldn't spend the money until you do a fuel pressure test to make sure the pump is not faulty.

_________________
Needs more blower whine!

Sounds good to me, is that the right tool to check for fuel pressure?

_________________
Current: '12 Audi S4 Quattro Prestige 6MT

Previous: '06 Audi S4 Quattro 6MT (for sale!)
'06 Chevy Cobalt SS, Stage II: 2.0L Supercharged, 16psi boost, G85 Package; Recaro Racing Seats, Limited Slip Differential, 5 Speed Manual
'00 Pontiac Bonneville SE ( 4 years, 197,000 miles)
'99 Dodge Intrepid ES (1 year, 2 engines)
'95 Chevy Lumina (2 years, 164,000 miles)

Yes.

_________________
Needs more blower whine!

So, we have been busy tuning this darn thing up, although it still doesn't like to start when it's cold, or hasn't been running for a few hours.

We have done: spark plugs, checked all wires, replace fuel filter, pcv valve, recent oil change, cap & rotor, but I haven't gotten around to checking fuel pressure yet.

If we have it running, and shut it off, it starts right back up no problem. But if it sits for say 3 or more hours, it doesn't like to start.
The elec. system is in good shape and everything cranks fine, it just never turns over.

If you hold the key to "start," no matter how long you hold it there, it won't start. The only trick to getting it start is to do a quick burst to start, repeatedly, and usually by attempt 3 it starts.

_________________
Current: '12 Audi S4 Quattro Prestige 6MT

Previous: '06 Audi S4 Quattro 6MT (for sale!)
'06 Chevy Cobalt SS, Stage II: 2.0L Supercharged, 16psi boost, G85 Package; Recaro Racing Seats, Limited Slip Differential, 5 Speed Manual
'00 Pontiac Bonneville SE ( 4 years, 197,000 miles)
'99 Dodge Intrepid ES (1 year, 2 engines)
'95 Chevy Lumina (2 years, 164,000 miles)

Fuel pump, 99% sure. Get that tester on there. I had the same issues with my Park Avenue when I bought it. There is a valve in the pump that goes bad causing it to leak pressure, thats why the quick bursts work.

_________________
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

That's what I didn't want to hear. lol

I always thought it would be the fuel pump, but I just didn't want to admit it...

Will do.

_________________
Current: '12 Audi S4 Quattro Prestige 6MT

Previous: '06 Audi S4 Quattro 6MT (for sale!)
'06 Chevy Cobalt SS, Stage II: 2.0L Supercharged, 16psi boost, G85 Package; Recaro Racing Seats, Limited Slip Differential, 5 Speed Manual
'00 Pontiac Bonneville SE ( 4 years, 197,000 miles)
'99 Dodge Intrepid ES (1 year, 2 engines)
'95 Chevy Lumina (2 years, 164,000 miles)