Hello everyone,
I guess I posted my original question in the wrong section.
I just purchased a winter beater and already have a starting problem with it
on the second day after I brought it home.
This is what happened.
After not starting the car ( a 1989 delta) for two days, I attempted to start
it one morning and all it did was kept on cranking but would not catch to start.
I cranked it for about 12 seconds then brought the key back to the off position.
Then I waited 5 seconds and tried to start it again. It was cranking for about
7 seconds and still wouldn't start so I put the accelerator to the floor while cranking
it and it started after 5 seconds.
Eight hours later it started fine.
Do you think it could be the fuel pressure regulator like on another post, I already
checked the wires and theys seem okay .
Could anyone help?

checked your fule pressure on it yet? Might be the fuel pump.

Hmm... could your engine be flooded? I don't know if it happens to 3800'*, but my family'* '85 Toyota Cressida has leaky injectors, so when the car is shut off, the next time the car'* started, since the leak is minor, the car starts, but idles rough for a little bit and wants to stall. Your car might be really flooded so that it doesn't even start


... or it could be the fuel pressure regulator... I wouldn't know

Hmm-that reminds me.....this past winter my car refused to start--no matter how much I cranked it! I even used starter fluid--no go! I finally pulled the plugs and they were saturated w/fuel! Never happened before or since then.
Ever checked your plugs for that?

the exact same thing happened to me before once in the winter. Has never happened since. so i dried the plugs and it cranked up fine.

Might want to take a look at your IAC valve, sounds like thats it (cold starting troubles).

Tonyrodz had the right idea with the starter fluid. Its, in my opinion, one of the best ways to diagnose a starting problem. Open the TB and spray some in, 2-3seconds. Wait about 5seconds then spray some on the back of the butterfly valve. Have a buddy try starting the car while you do 1-2second pulses into the TB. If it starts up continue pulsing the starting fluid into the TB and if you can keep it running for more than 10-15seconds you have a fuel delivery problem. If it doesn't help any or it still doesn't want to start properly the problem is probably your ignition (coils, wires, plugs...) or related sensors (cam/crank).

check the cam sensor. the exact same thing happened to me. it started fine for a while but then it doesnt seem to catch when you crank it. i let it run then restart it and its fine. the sensor was about $35 bucks. check the crank sensor too.