Getting a little hard to start.

[wannavette]

Not sure if it's normal but here recently my car has been a little hard to start.I'd say about 1 out of every 5 times I have to give it a little push on the gas pedal to get it fire up.
Is this normal?A guy I know who owns an 88 told me his has always been like that not to worry.

 

[JonM]

With fuel injection you shouldn't have to hit the gas at all before you start it. When was the last time you had a tune up and the timing checked? ...Have you checked all connectors and vacuum hoses for leaks?

 

[Vettefan87]

I have to "help" mine stay running for the first 10-15 seconds or it will take two or three restarts to stay running when left over night. I would not be worried to much, these cars are almost twenty years old. As long as it runs fine other wise I wouldn't stress to much about it.

 

[tyrel]

You might try checking your fuel pressure, it's really easy to do, just hook it up to the schrader valve on the fuel rail.

 

[Vettefan87]

You might try checking your fuel pressure, it's really easy to do, just hook it up to the schrader valve on the fuel rail.

If it is running fine other then start up I would not mess with it. Playing with the fuel pressure is like trying to find a needle in a haystack to get it running better. I went through weeks of trying to "tune" my car that way. Just my opinion, but I would maybe put some wires, and good AC rapidfires on leave it alone.

 

[bradfordsvettes]

I would probably try cleaning thre throttle body they get coked up behind the throttle plate and it screws up the min air rate setting try that and see what happens Steve

 

[Jeb]

I would probably try cleaning thre throttle body they get coked up behind the throttle plate and it screws up the min air rate setting try that and see what happens Steve

Speaking of which, I see in the Helm's manual that you have to drain the radiator and remove the water hoses to clean behind the TB. Isn't it possible to just move it out far enough to get into the plenum and the rear end of the TB without doing that? I really don't want to do it if I can help it.

 

[Vettefan87]

I dont know why....I have pulled my throttle body off without draining the radiator. You will lose a little coolant since the line runs into the TB itself, but I spliced those two hoses together so I wouldnt have to worry about that anymore.

 

[wannavette]

thanks for all the input guys!It's so sporadic right now that maybe I'm making a mountain out of molehill.It's easy to forget that the car is 20 years old.

BTW-rapid fire plugs installed last fall and new Accel plug wires were done about a month ago.

 

[bradfordsvettes]

you can also take an acid brush and give it a little tweak on the end and then hold the throttle blade open .you can then clean both sides of the blade and bore with the brush and throttlebore or intake cleaner Steve