I have a 1992 GXE. I just finished replacing the fuel lines due to rust. Now the car is hard to start (have to crank the engine for a lot longer than I used to). Once I have it started, the car runs great. But the period of cranking the engine gets longer and longer by the day. I'm worried that one day it just won't start and would like to fix the problem now as this is my main form of transport. Any suggestions?

 

Go back though where you were working or the car, see if you left something unplugged or kinked one of the lines.Plenty of us have forgotten to plug some wire back in or something.

 

---->"Once I have it started, the car runs great." If u still had fuel problem, would not 'run great'....

I suppose coils/plugs, IACV idle assy dirty, ign switch faulty, ECU connectors dirty.

 

Hook a volt meter up to your battery, and check the voltage when the engine is being cranked. If it drops well below 11V, then your battery is bad. Also make sure the running voltage is at least 13.8V (to make sure the alt. is good).

 

Especially in the cold weather if your battery is weak it will not start as quickly. I got a new battery with 850 CCA and it starts right away evn in the freezing weather.

 

i had this same problem when i had my fuel lines fixed. they did disconnect the battery, and so i thought that was my problem. The problem went away so i figured not to worry bout it. but now im gonna check my battery today.

hopefully yours goes away and or its your battery. those are cheap easy fixes.

good luck.

Gregg

 

Does a max have a fuel presure regulator? that helps out the car during cold start by providing enough fuel for combustion during a cold start. The car might be running fine after it starts because the fuel pump is providing enough fuel psi when car is already running. Just not enugh when first staring the car. im no expert though....

 

If battery is half dead, then pump might not produce full pressure. How critical that is and what are the voltage requirement at pump, dunno. The regulator does not know any thing about electrons, its a mech valve and just opens if pressure rises over its settings to release gas pressure to the return pipe.

 

What I was saing is that it might be busted and stays open so there is no fuel presure in the morning when he tries to start his car. so he has to keep cranking until the fuel pump pushes enough gas to start the car.

 

lalo, what you are suggesting sounds exactly like what is happening. I can also see Wiking's suggestion as plausible. But, I will use a "good" battery to see if Wiking's theory is correct or not. If the battery were half dead, the car would not turn over well, but the start cranks very well. I do not know how to test lalo's theory. I will call NAPA and see how much a fuel pressure regulator is. I would like to do as much diagnosis as I can from my nice warm computer room, seeing as it is only 8 degrees F outside. I have a nice garage to work on my Max, but I'd rather be inside.

 

Wiking, just out of curiosity. What is the temperature where you are in Sweden? It is -13 celsius here. Just wondering if proximity to the ocean moderates the temperature in Sweden?

 

Not an expert on Maximas by any means but maybe the fuel filter is slightly clogged after you replaced those rusted fuel lines some dirt may have moved into the filter. Just my two cents.