Car is a 52 STI with a full h&s decat, ECUTEK map, warlboro, panel filter and colder plugs.

Since having all the bits added to the car if i go off on holiday or leave the car for a few days without driving (which is very rare!) the car can take a good 5,6,7,8,9.10 turns to try and get it to start.

Once started I can go to work, sit in the office for 9 hours and go out and start straight away again. Leave it another couple of days and I go back to the original problem.

When i turn the ignition key to "1" i can hear the pump prime in the boot and a click from the engine bay so everything seems to be engaging as it should. Just takes a while to turn over if it has been sat for a while.

Any ideas? Could it be the pump or the colder plugs? Map was checked and no faults found on the reader or anywhere else...

 

Bttt!

 

Anyone?

 

Forgot I posted this but still same problem... boing!

 

Could you be losing pressure in the fuel system whilst the car is standing ?

Colder plugs won't help cold starts, but should still fire first go..

 

Where would it lose pressure from? Pump?

 

Its a theory for diesels where the vac pipes can leak and air is pulled into them as fuel returns to the tank, so its taking longer for the fuel to reach the chambers,
On a old carb car id say diaphragm as these used to allow fuel evaporate like on a air leak with a diesel,
Which is the same symptoms as your having now, left for a long time the fuel is evaporating or leaking out, you would smell it if it was a leak imho.

 

Sure, there's definately no leak or smell of fuel. Just über long starting after the car has sat for 2 days and abig puff of petrol smoke out the back. Any another ideas? Car is running fine other wise.

Only thing I would say is the car runs lumpy for the first 2 minutes after the cold start.

 

there was an ecu update for bad starting but as yours has been remapped it probably won't apply

 

Agreed, car started fine prior to the additional components and map. Map has been checked and no fault found? Conclusion is a component but curious to which?

 

id be inclined to switch the ignition on and off two or three times before cranking to let the fuel pump prime and make sure you have full fuel pressure. If it then starts first time its a fair bet its loosing fuel pressure when its been sat for a while

 

Thanks TT - Ill give that a go. I can definately hear it all whirring in the boot and then a click from the front

 

Yep you were right!

If I let the pump prime a few times first then not a problem. Only does it after a few days.

What would cause this?

 

its loosing fuel pressure at a guess. id check all the pipe connections, give all the clips that you can see half a turn with a screw driver also remember theres some pipe work in the tank that connects the pump up. could even be this thats loose as if this is leaking it will just leak back into the tank so there wont be any smell or fuel loss.

 

Have u had the fuel filter changed at all?
these clips can leak a little after.

 

This only started last year when the fuel pump was changed...

 

Have a look in there first then. theres a small peice of pipe mabe 3ins long which takes the fuel from the pump to the tank pipe outlet. Id be checking these have clips on and are tight