Car takes about a minute to start

TOBY MAORI

MEMBER
1997 VOLKSWAGEN POLO
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
99,870 MILES

Car takes about 30 seconds to start cold or warm maybe a minute there is no smell off petrol temperature gauge normal once started car fine. Run for while ok switch off try again car starts. Turn off for about 10 mins car takes ages to start

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 AT 1:13 PM

1 Reply

ERNEST CLARK

MECHANIC
1,730 POSTS

This may be the fuel pressure regulator. The FPR is meant to maintain pressure in the system when you cut the engine off. This is so when you're ready for a restart, there's fuel already at the engine and you don't have to wait for the fuel to travel from the tank to the engine.

First pull the vacuum hose connected to the regulator. If there's any sign/smell of gas, then it's bad. Replace it. Then use a fuel pressure gauge to check pressure on the service port of the fuel rail. Turn key on/engine off. Pressure should be somewhere between 39-45 psi and holds steady. Then turn key off. Pressure should stay that way for at least 15 minutes. If it falls, FPR is bad