My 96 3.0 Will turn over a very long time & sometimes it starts & when it does it runs great! I've changed plugs, put on new starter, & now it just will not start.It will turn over so long I just don't want to burn the starter out. Even after it's warm if i shut it off, it will turn over fast , & after a while it might start. Is there something that goes on in start mode that needs to be looked at??? I give up.
Thanks, LEN

 

have you pulled ECU codes? can you hear the fuel pump?

 

Your crank shaft position sensor is getting weak. There are 2 of them, one is called POS (position) and one is REF (referance). I believe POS is causing your hard starts. They have been known to fail or cause hard starts without setting a code. Crank POS is located on the transmission bell housing, under the car, twards the front. You might try removing it and cleaning the fine metalic dust that seems to collect on the pickup. You should also clean up REF with is located by your lower crank pully. You can gain access to it by turning your steering all the way to the right and looking in the right wheel well behind the splash guard.

Your hard starts should go away if both of those sensors have good strong signals to your ECU.