[PotentPony]

I have a 90 2.3 thats hard to start. If I initally start the car..it'll just crank. When I stop cranking and try again..it usually starts. Now if I just turn the key on and off like 4 times to pump up the fuel pump..It'll start. Am I having a problem with the fuel pump bleeding off pressure? Anyone have a suggestion on how to fix this?

[madmaxx69]

Originally Posted by PotentPony

I have a 90 2.3 thats hard to start. If I initally start the car..it'll just crank. When I stop cranking and try again..it usually starts. Now if I just turn the key on and off like 4 times to pump up the fuel pump..It'll start. Am I having a problem with the fuel pump bleeding off pressure? Anyone have a suggestion on how to fix this?

Its one of two things, The one way valve in the pump in the tank is letting you pressure bleed back untill the engine is running, or two the Pressure Regulator on the fuel rail is stuck part way open allowing the fuel to leak past it back to the tank. MOST of the time its #2 fuel pressure regulator leaking back to the tank. These are the only two items that will cause your concern.

[Matto211]

I'm not trying to be rude madmaxx69 but I don't beleive that is his problem, I had the same exact problem with my 1989 and it turned out to be the fuel pump was bad! It was not giving the engine enough pressure, to start. The engine has to have constant pressure to run. So what's going on is the your priming the engine to give it fuel, but there is no pressure to run the engine. With these old 2.3L vehical's the fuel pumps are not like normal fuel pumps when they go out. When they go out they slowly loose ability to build up pressure. So what you have to do is drop the gas tank and unhook all the wiring to install a new fuel pump.

I personally went with a 95lph fuel pump to give it more pressure. I got my fuel pump out of a 90 Ford Mustang Lx 5.0L 5 speed. Really made a difference from compared to the stock fuel pump. More reaction when you want it. So yeah, also I have better fuel milage because there's fuel when I need unlike with the old pump it took forever to get the fuel then it over used it.

Good luck getting it fixed! Hope this helped you

[NavySVO]

Originally Posted by Matto211

I'm not trying to be rude madmaxx69 but I don't beleive that is his problem,

That is basically the same thing he is refering to. If the check valve in the pump is bad, the whole system will drain back into the tank and it will take forever to prime.

It could also be a weak fuel pump as you mention, but if it is that pooped it will usually not even let the car keep running sufficiently during loads.

Personally, I would get a hold of a FP regulator and try it first.
Less labor and money. If that doesn't do it, go with the pump.
Have you looked in the vacuum line for the FPR and seen if there is fuel there? The diaphram could be cracked/split if so.