i have a 2000 SSEi that it hard to start unless you turn the key on and off a few times and let the fuel pump run for a little bit. we have changed the fuel filter and have hooked a fuel pressure gauge to it and as soon as the key comes on the first time i get pressure. its got a 3.3 pulley and it funs fine once it fires up its just kinda baffling to me why its doing this. we have swapped coils, ICM from a buddys car that we knew were good and still the same thing. I know the head gaskets are leaking a little at least on the out side i can see oil leaking out. we have parts on the way to replace the head gaskets as well as a few other parts (insert evil laugh here). ill just say ZZP got about $3400 for parts for the car that are all going in at once some in the trans the rest are top end parts.

Check for vacuum leaks, check the EGR, and the IAT.

no vacc leaks that i can find the EGR is blocked off but it was doing this way before it was blocked off and the IAT is fine but about 10" or so farther from the TB that stock could that be the prob?

What'* the pressure on the fuel rail? Will it hold pressure after you turn the key on, get it to 45+psi and then turn the key off?

Don't remember the pressure its been like 8-9 months ago that I tested it back when this prob first started. I'm pretty sure it was around the 40-45 psi mark and it held the pressure for about an hr or 2. We even drive it down the road with the fuel pressure gauge hooked to it and even at WOT it was at about 39-42 psi range.

I have even tried going to very rich and very lean on the start up A/F ratio in the tune but it does not seem to change anything. how ever this winter when it got below about 40* out side it would fire right up like it used to.

Stop living in denial......it IS the fuel pum. Just had this very same thing with my wife'* s10.

one morning while in a hurry I stopped for gas, shut the truck off .....and it decided that it was through.

NOW here is a little trick......WHEN it fails and leaves you,.... IF you can get under the car and use a 2x4 and beat on the tank.....while someone is cycling the key.....you might be able to get it to run one last time to get it home!!!

Good luck.

ya i did that for a neighbor i beat on the bottom of the tank with my hand and got him another day or 2. and i would think if my pump was getting weak it would go out soon after it got weak but its been hard to start for almost a year now.

Ok, does the pump prime everytime you turn the key to power on?

Moved to 2000-2005 for better visibility.

it seems to i can hear it come on every time i turn on the key.