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My car (01 R/T) is having difficulty starting in just a couple cranks. If I turn the key to the ON position and let the fuel pump prime, it starts right up. If I don't do this, the car cranks for 5-10 seconds then starts. I just did the spark plugs/air filter/coil but I know it is not that because it did it prior to these.

I also hear a noise, which I can best describe as turtles having sex, by the fuel filler neck. I am curious to thoughts before I throw money at it but I am thinking it is fuel pump and/or pressure regulator.

Thoughts? Anyone else experience this noise/issue that could point my in the right direction.

Thanks,
Jason

Without a pressure gauge to see what the PSI is, it is hard to tell if the pump is bad.

It could be in the internal check bleeding the pressure off. if it was an injector leaking down, it would have a miss or smell pig rich at start up. Since it starts fine after priming, I wouldn't lean towards an injector.

I never really just jump in and hit the key, I always let it prime first. That way if it takes longer than usual, I know somethings up.

Another factor may be the IAC getting sticky. At key on, it goes full open to get enough air to start. If it is slow, it may cause hard starting.

This happened to me two different times for two different reasons. HOWEVER, in a Pontiac Sunfire. Nonetheless, I've looked it up and it can still mean the same things in a Neon.

The first time it happened, the fuel pump went bad. It did that for a month, and then just wouldn't even try to start. Replaced the fuel pump.

The second time it happened, it was the starter. We'd thought the new fuel pump might be taking a crap, but upon inspection, it was the starter. We replaced it, and the issue was immediately remedied.

What's interesting about the second scenario with the starter, is that I just bought a 2001 Neon R/T like you have, and it has a brand new starter in it. So, maybe it wouldn't hurt to check your starter

Could be the regulator/filter, had this same issue on the 95 and that fixed it.

Thanks for the thoughts. I am thinking it might be the regulator so I will try that first before anything else.

Check your pump relay. Make sure its good.and clean. You should also check the voltage at the pump before you replace parts. No need.to Chang the regulator until to verify pressure.

Dmn. Phone

Tro

Until you have something to base parts replacements, you could be dumping a bunch of money and time into it, and still have the same problem.

If it were me, I would just let it prime, and run it until it hard starts with a good prime. If it is running fine otherwise, I doubt it is a fuel delivery problem. A pressure retaining problem, possibly, but other than an extra second to start it, it isn't worth spending $100 ish to fix. But I am a cheap neon owner.

My ex had that issue with her old R/T as well. Hers turned out to be the starter. We replaced it and it worked fine. Still cant figure out why if she just let it sit with key on for a few seconds it would kick right up but to jump in and start it took time. But none the less an new starter fixed hers.

Just wondering, When did you ever hear two turtles having sex? Seems like a weird analogy to make.

Click on the thinking emo in my first post....

A bad starter, could be drawing the battery down while cranking, to the point the voltage is too low to effectively fire the plugs. Thus the hard start.