I know, this seems to be a common problem for our cars but I'll throw my symptoms out there in case one of you experts can help.

1996 with 140k miles. Runs excellent except at start up when cold (sitting a few hours). I crank the engine for about 5 seconds and she just wont catch. Try again and it might catch for a split second but then it dies out. Try again and it might catch for a second and when I give it gas it might still die out, or it might rev up and make a loud misfire or popping type of sound and then die out. By the third or fourth attempt it will usually catch on and run just fine.

So far I've cleaned the throttle body. Cleaned and then replaced (junkyard part)the ICV. Inspected, cleaned, swapped the 2 crankshaft position sensors and the cam postion sensor. Replaced spark plugs, air filter and fuel filter.

So what should be next on my to do list? Thanks

 

i wouldn't really consider myself an "expert" persay, but my 280zx did this and it was leaking injectors so if i let it sit the cylinder would flood and die on startup. i too had to crank in a few times and it always worked to crank twice and then on the third time it would start and i wouldnt give it gas so it didnt flood again. i pulled out each injector and rigged it to a fuel pump to watch the spray and drip pattern, found and fixed. im not familiar with the fuel delivery system specifics on our cars...this was just my experience. also, i may be wrong, but doesn't the egr valve have something to do with this problem as well?

 

I would look into replacing the ECTS. If only because symptoms occur with a cold engine and the ECTS being relatively cheap--if you have starting issues with the engine warm, think elsewhere. The backfiring is normal after multiple start attempts btw.

 

I thought about the ETCS but when I had my actron scan tool hooked up to the vehicle it reads the coolant temp at about 70 at start up and then gradually rises. I would think if this sensor is malfunctioning the tool would show some abnormally high temps at start up. Right?

 

throw a fuel pressure gauge on it. It's sounds like a leaky injector or a bad check valve in the fuel pump. with a gauge on it start car then turn it off the pressure should remain there. If it drops right a way then you know there is a leak in the fuel system.

 

Mine does the same thing... Sometimes it dies sometimes it doesn't ... After a week its fine, or not and the same thing after an hour ...

 

Just wanted to update anyone who cares.

I checked the fuse panel and was missing a fuse. I'm not sure if it wa sthe 'fuel pump' fuse or the 'start sig' fuse. Since I do not believe the engine could run w/o the fuel pump fuse I will assume it wa sthe start sig fuse, although it really did look like the fuel pump fuse from my vantage point and the diagram on the panel door. Anywho once I messed with the fuses, replaced and reseated, the car has started right up with no problems what so ever, knock wood. What I should do is remove the start sig fuse and see if the problem returns but I'm so happy that the car works I dont want to jinxs meself.

In conclusion anyone having this type of no start issue check your fuses, reseat and possibly move them around. It might work and it cost nothing but 5 minutes.