I recently had an intake go bad, before that time I didn't have this problem. After I got it back when starting, the first crank just cranks with no fire, the second crank starts right up. If you hold the first crank real long, it still doesn't fire but it seems to load up the engine, the second crank starts it but it smells loaded. I took it back to the garage who installed the new intake and he checked the fuel pressure, we were originally thinking fuel pump. He describes it as something sticking in the fuel system as if the presure comes up right away but it won't maintain. My wife said that he described it was as a pressure valve was sticking. I didn't get to speak to him yet, but it is as if something on the fuel rail regulating pressure is going bad, does this sound familliar with anyone? Once started, it runs fine. Keep in mind that this is a wife'* translation of what the mechanic diagnosed.

Thanks in advance....

IIRC the FPR'* in 98 were under a recall for leaking issues. The easy way to check is to remove the vacuum line from it. If there is any fuel in the vacuum line the regulator should be replaced asap as it could cause an explosion of the upper intake by dumping fuel.

Other than that..the check valve in the fuel pump is another common issue.

If I am looking at the right part, there is a silver hat looking actuator on the end of the fuel rail with scraders under it. There is a vacuum line connected to the top of it and I pulled it off both running and not, there was no sign of fuel. The mechanic said that the fuel pressure comes up and then won't maintain. If I hold the key on and it doesn't start it loads up which indicated to me that I have fuel pressure. Wouldn't the check valve cause the fuel pressure to bleed off when the engine wasn't running thus making it hard to start because of lack of pressure?