Hi everyone, I was wondering if someone could give me some advice on my problem.

90 SSE 456,000 KLM. tune-up 5000 KLM. ago new coil & power pack 7000 KLM. ago new fuel pump and filter 2000 KLM. ago

Problem......it will never start when cold on the first try even if it cranked over for 15 seconds, it always started second try only after 2 seconds. It had a hesitation and sputtering for the first 5 minutes then ran well. It has progressively gotten worse so that it start only after the 3 sets of cranking over then sputters and hesitates for about 10 minutes then ran fine. I'm now at the point where it takes 4 tries of cranking it over then the hesitation and sputtering never goes away. When hot it starts within the first 5 second of cranking. As for the sputtering it is so severe now that when I put it to the floor it won't rev over 4,500 rpm in gear and only runs slightly better when I don't put it under any load. if I start off under very slight acceleration, it won't hesitate and the sputtering in very minimal.

Conclution:
Starts after 4 tries at cranking over engine when cold.
has hesitation hot or cold now when under normal load and off idle.
sputters when under acceleration while in nuetral or drive but worse under load.
won't rev overapprox. 4,500 under full acceleration unless I let reduce the load on the pedal.
starts better when hot and on first try.
hesitation and sputtering only happened when cold before, now all the time.

I would appreciate any feedback...

Thanks in advance

Frank

Has the timing chain ever been replaced? ECM? Injectors really dirty? Does the fuel pump turn or for a couple of seconds when the key is turned on? What is the actual fuel pressure? Did any of these symptoms show up after any of the listed items were replaced?

I agree: Check the fuel pressure and at least eliminate that before moving on to anything else.

Did your tuneup include new plug wires?

that is definitely a fuel issue. did your tune up include a fuel filter? i also agree, test your fuel pressure, make sure it'* acceptable. also pull your vacuum line for your fuel pressure regulator, to make sure there isn't fuel in there [sign of fuel pressure regulator failure]. If none of that works.. then it could be an injector issue.. but i doubt that.

when the car doesn't want to go over 4,500RPM... does the SES light come on during that time? if not, try to put it above 4,5000RPM for 5 seconds [not too hard].. under the conditions that make it struggle and hesitate. but after you do that, be sure to take it easy on the car, that can be a little rough on it [not the revving, but the lack of fuel.. ].

Thanks for all the quick responses and I'll answer them one by one:

Yes fuel filter was replaced.
Don't know fuel pressure yet and yes it started happening after then fuel pump was replaced by me.
All injectors are original.
No the SES light never comes on.
Yes new wires during tune-up
No. it has original timing belt
I add fuel injector cleaner regularly to fuel tank..
Not sure what the ECM is but the power pack and coil has been replaced this year.
Yes fuel pump comes on for a few second when ignition is turned on.


Thanks 2seater theJMFC and opensourceguy You don't know how much I appreciate your input. I'm presently driving my wifes car cause I don't trust the bonne right now. I get teased alot re the mileage and age of my bonne but it has been the best car I've ever owned and I don't want to let her go. I literally want it to live forever.

I'll get back to you when I find what the fuel pressure is and pull the vacuum on the regulator.............by the way........where is the regulator located?

Thanks again everyone.

Fuel pressure regulator is on the driver'* side front of the fuel rail, right near the pressure tap. A little black cannister about 2" in diameter with a vacuum nipple facing toward the passengers side. If the problem started after replacing the fuel pump, did you replace the "pulsator" with a plain hose rated for fuel injector pressure inside the tank? If the original was used over, it is very possible it is leaking internally causing low fuel pressure.

I will check the fuel pressure regulator tonight 2seater. As for the pulsator I'm not sure what this is, but I did replace the fuel pump, sock, and fuel filter. I drove the bonne around town yesterday evening and found that if I don't put to much load, in other words take off real slowly it doesn't bog or hesitate that much. when I drive normally it'* like it'* got a miss, or jerking sensation, best way to describe it is a sputter.

Please keep the suggestions comming, I could use help keeping this Bonne living forever, or alteast another year

Thanks

Frank

That'* weird. Usually the FPR only causes hard starts.. not a loss of performance. Does your exhaust have any colour or strange smell? SES light on? Codes?

Maybe it really is a misfire? Does it have a click noise? Do you know what a misfire sounds like?

I took off the vacuum to the regulator and there was no fuel in the line.
The SES light doesn't come on.
It'* still the original exhaust therfore it'* all shades of color and patches etc.
The engine idles well, same as usual.


What I can add is this:

It take 4 tries to start it when cold, and keep in mind it'* summer. And it starts on the first try when the engine is warmed up.
It runs better when engine is up to normal temperature.
If I start off in drive slowly and continue at that pace is runs 90% better.
It'* been progressivly gotten worse for about 2 months.
It started off 2 months ago with just a slight hesitation only,( it may be a coincident that it started when I changed the fuel pump).

I don't have a fuel pressure gauge therefore I can't check that, maybe a friend may have one, I'll ask.

PLEASE keep the suggestions comming.

Thanks Frank

You gave me a good laugh, bud. I'm not talking about the exhaust tubing, but the exhaust.. like exhaust air, carbon dioxide, that stuff. I'm going to assume there is no black smoke, white smoke, blue smoke.. any smoke at all?

Now.. let'* maybe play around with this. Maybe it isn't fuel-related. Does this issue happen when the engine is under no load [park or neutral]? What about if you give WOT from idle, does the issue happen at idle, or only until a certain RPM is reached? Let'* say you were to keep your engine right smack dab in the center of this issue? 3,500-4,000RPM lets say. If you were to keep the car in 2nd gear, and stay there.. would the tach jump around? Would the engine'* speed actually be changing around? Does it perhaps jump in and out of gears too?