Someone with diagnostic Knowhow...PLEASE

[red ink]

Alright fellas,
Car runs GREAT. However every 1 out of 10 starts, the car will not start. It will crank longer than im willing to sit with my fingers pushing the key. Now heres the weird thing- the car will start EVERYTIME after just sitting for mabey 30-40 seconds after cranking the crap outta it. It also happens when driving- I'll be slowing to a stop light and it just DIES. It will still crank and prime just fine. but wont fire.
So i was thinking, and searching threads. Mabey Fuel pump?? Mabey the Mesh on the bottom of the pump is clogged? Who knows. Its extreamly hard to know whats wrong with it tho because the SOB keeps starting just lil after i last tried to crank it. any ideas? oh ya...cant run codes, my plug-in port dosent work after my PIH swap.

 

[RIO5.0]

hook-up a fuel pressure gage to the rail and see what happens when you shut it off, see if it drops to 0 instantly...sounds like it not holding pressure....hence the starting issue... you can try to prime it 3 times or so then hit it to start....
didnt see anything in your sig so assuming its stock the one and has some miles on it, that might be your problem???

 

[KK6695GT]

Like Rio said, first thing to do is hook up a fuel pressure gauge. The permanent type would be best, that way you can pop the hood at any given time and check it. I'm a tightwad so I made my own adaptor, but www.50resto.com has a gauge kit for $39.95 p/n KP-1441. The fuel rail on the passenger side of the motor towards the front has a schrader valve (looks like a tire valve) and that's what you hook on to. You need to hook up a gauge to the valve and see 1) what pressure you get (with and without the vacuum line hooked up to the pressure regulator) and 2) how long does it take for the pressure to drop off after you shut the motor off (bleed down).

Start with checking your pressure and be systematic/organized/logical as you trouble shoot. Also, just use common sense and follow your gut! I had this same problem with hard starting every once in a while. Hot, cold, didn't matter. I'd jump in and it would take 5-8 attempts until it would catch. Sounded ignorant to someone standing nearby and hearing you crank and crank! 1/2 way through my "trouble shooting" I thought ignition switch. PSI readings were good but everyone said no way on electrical, had to be fuel pump. After replacing a half dozen parts (including the fuel pump which means dropping the tank and dealing with the PITA fuel fittings that won't release) guess what. A $14.00 ignition switch solved the problem.....

Just take it a step at a time and think as you go.

 

[red ink]

whats an ignition switch? i beleive a shop has changed that part recently tho. I know what the fuel rail pressure gauge is. I had on but then took it off cuz it leaked. I posted it actually, dont buy accel. lol. It was toast after a month or so. the glass broke out and it was giving crappy readings. Any suggestions on a brand that wont brake?
The fuel pump is a 255 bbk. I know the hassel of putting one in cuz i did it. Its not that hard except i'd have to go buy the special tool to separtate those metal hoses.
Priming wont help it. I could prime it 15 times and keep trying to start. If these tries were all consecutive, it wont start. But If i WAIT for like 30 seconds with the key on the first position in the ignition (the one where it beeps but none of the dash lights come on), it WILL start.