i have an 01 se with 107k. upon start up, sometimes the engine simply cuts out. i then have to sometimes restart with intermitent success. sometimes it will catch and fire right up, other times it takes 3-4 turns of the key to get it to fire. any thoughts as to a possible problem? plugs/wires--fuel delivery issue--other thoughts?? thanks to anyone that can offer some input...

You got it check for fuel pressure and spark.How old are plugs and wires?

Does it seem like it is flooded? I had a similar problem, and it was the fuel pressure regulator. It would bleed down a bit and flood the engine. It started out just needing to crank a little longer than normal and kept getting worse. If it sat more than a few hours, it would start fine. But if it was about 30 min - 3 hours, it would start really hard and die sometimes like you describe.

i changed the plugs and wires today. it started fine, but then a couple of times when i went to start it, it died. is there a way to check to fuel pressure without going out and buying something?

No. You will need a test gauge (0-60, or 0-100 psi) tied into the fuel rail. (schrader fitting) Remove the vacum line from the fuel pressure regulator (engine off) and look for any fuel. There should not be any fuel in the vacum line, or coming out of the vacum side of the FPR.

i was doing some searching around and noticed recalls for many FPR with the exception of 2001 (my year). did gm change something for one year only? or is it safe to assume that the FPR could be at fault here. once the car is started, there is no problems what so ever. idles, accelleration, WOT, everything just fine.

OR should i get the fuel pressure checked first and then proceed??

Just for fun, take off the fuse box cover under the hood. If yours still has the black plastic inner cover (under the lid), pop it off and discard it, just as it says on it. If you unsnap the outer lid and there'* no inner cover over the fuses, no problem. Then, tighten down the 3 bolts holding the fuse box down. Make sure all fuses are firmly pushed in as well. My '00 had an intermittent start problem, and the fuse box was loose. Don't ask how many wild goose chases I went on before finding that out!