97 chey blazer hard to start

takes 2 turns of key and wait for fuel prime to shut off then starts. If i fill it up (top off) it starts first few times with one short flick of the key. Car performance is great! I personaly replaced fuel filter, had fuel injection service done at repair shop and I also replaced cap,rotor and installed double platiunm plugs. Vehicle has 134,000 miles on it and none of the smog equipment has never been replaced. Always passed!
Any ideas why hard to start. I thought fuel pump, but I'm asking here because that is expensive and a pain to do!!!

 

From what you've described as the problem and what you do when it works right, I would say fuel pump/pressure regulator. I would have to lean a little more toward the regulator because you say you have great performance and the fuel injectors have been serviced = assuming are not leaking.

You could guess between the two and replace the regulator, or wait until it gets worse (keep a bike in the back), or have the rail pressure checked during running and monitor after shutoff.

If it's OK during running, but drops quickly after shutoff, it would point to the regulator. With the same symptoms it can also be the back flow check in the fuel pump, but more likely the regulator.

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

where is the regulator

 

if it is a 4.3 the regulator is under the upper intake manifold if it is a 2.2 it on the end of the fuel rail

if it a 4.3 we have seen way more pumps that dont make the pressure high enough to fire right away

put fuel pressure gage on the rail and turn key on see what u get for fuel pressure should be 60 psi or higher

 

thanks guys.
Brian Are there 2 intake manifolds upper and lower. If so
this means too replace the pressure regulator I have to remove the upper intake manifold. Yah or nay!

 

yes if u look u will see the upper one which has the throttle bolted to it not to hard to take it off

 

thank you Brian and all who have posted here