1992 Voyager starting slow

I have noticed lately that our van is starting slow.It turns over well, but has to crank a while before it kicks over and runs. Also have be noticing a gas smell , but no visible leaks anywhere. not sure if this could be related

Every now and then while driving along down the road the van will just stop running and I coast to the side of the road and she usually starts right back up.Sometimes it kind of hic ups while driving and not sure what that is all about,

Is there any help for this old clunker, I'd run it off a cliff if it wasn't handicapped equipped and my wife needs the ramp.

thanks for any and all help.

 

I would start by changing the oil sparkplugs and air filter. maby the fuel filter also (if equpped) sense you said you smell a gas smell while its running walk behind to where the exhaust pipe is. do you see any smoke or oil dripping out of it.If so could be a head gasket going.

 

Possible fuel pump, too; but I would start with a fuel filter as suggested.

 

Do you have any kind of maintenance log on this van as to what you have either replaced or checked on the car, while you have owned it? There are so many things that can cause this.

Is this a 4 cylinder or V-6?

Have you made sure you don't have a fuel leak, since you smell gas?

Have you ever checked under the air cleaner?

Have you ever heard a sound of a rush of air when removing your gas cap? Have you ever , or have a habit of extremely topping off your gas at fill-ups?

You could have an electrical issue. So many things.

Have you pulled a spark plug or two, recently to check for it's color and wear?

 

The van is a 3.3 v6 and is maintained as far as plugs,oil, filters and general maintenance. I don't see any gas leaks anywhere and it has been to the shop to diagnose the stalling issues.It never happens at the shop of course and they did replace the fuel pump a little while ago to the tune of $650.00.
That didn't solve the stalling. Not sure I want t o take it back to see why it starts slow if you know what I mean

 

Yes I know what you mean. The $650 said it all. Been there, done that.

Unfortunately when a problem goes away, test meters and stuff will not indicate a problem at that time, because there IS no problem at that time.

Sometimes it takes good educated guesses based on experience. But unfortunately, you have to pay big money for that experience. And sometimes THEY don't even know without running this huge gammut of tests - or worse - replacing this and that, like different sensors, like MAF sensors, positioning sensors, oxygen sensors, etc.

Does your Voyager have that feature where you turn the key : On, off, on, off - then on - and leave it there, and watch the engine light flash out the code with a series of blinks, then a pause, then some more blinks? (For example, if a code 37 came up, it would blink 3 times, pause, then blink 7 more times.

 

yes the codes can be pulled that way and they havent been checked for a while.

Maybe I ought to take her out to Autozone and let them pull the codes.
they do it for free .
then see what it may take to fix the problem.

 

Do you have a Haynes manual for the Voyager? I'd imagine the codes would be in there, under the emmissions section.

Please keep us abreast as to what you are finding out.