A friend has a 3.5 with 84k miles. It has intermittant starting problems. Cold or hot, does not seem to matter.Might start immediately. Might turn over 3-4 seconds before it hits, then runs fine. It had the original plugs so I installed new plugs but has not helped....???


I am old school and hate computers on cars.

 

Sounds like a fuel related problem. I experience the same starting issue with my '02 with 54,000 miles from time to time. It does seem to start better after I've added a bottle of inexpensive fuel injection cleaner to the tank. I also try to run a 'Top-Tier' quality gasoline all the time. Google 'Top-Tier Gasoline' for an explanation. I've never changed the fuel filter and have a tendency to never fill
the fuel tank, keeping it between an 1/8th and 1/2 a tank 90% of the
time. I mention that only because the fuel pump for most fuel-injected vehicles is mounted inside the fuel tank. It's located there to keep it cool, submersed in gasoline. Sometimes, if the tank is run with less than 3 or 4 gallons the fuel pump can overheat causing it to begin failing prematurely. There also may be a fuel pressure regulator in-line that is not doing it's job of maintaining residual pressure after the engine has been shut off. Does your poor starting occur all the time - engine cold or hot? Or is it just an issue on cold start-ups? Cold start issues generally are pump related. Anyway, fuel quality, fuel filter, pressure regulator or fuel pump all can contribute to the problem.
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It is fixed.....ended up being the injectors fuel pressure regulator......thanks.