Last few days, it takes unusually long for the engine to turn over when I turn the key. I have plenty of cranking power and no problems after it does start. Could it be bad gas (from Costco), starter beginning to go after 328K miles?
.
.

 

Check the battery cables and connections

 

Connections are tight. The battery is about 1 year old and the battery cables are about 3 years old.

Next .............

 

Can you elaborate on this?
It takes unusually long:
- before the starter engages after you turn the key?
- before the engine actually fires and starts? (long cranking time before ignition)
- the starter/engine is turning very slowly? (starter struggling to turn the engine)

 

Answer: B - before the engine actually fires and starts

 

So in theory, that would be spark or fuel challenges. Does this behavior change on cold vs warm starts? Is the behavior any different if the car was running, turned off, and immediately restarted? Wondering if your fuel pump isn't priming the system up on cold start? I'm off on a guessing game here....I haven't had to chase this issue myself.

 

Yeah, I'm thinking a fuel issue as well.

 

Paul checked it out yesterday. His prognosis, the fuel pump. I guess after 16 years and 328K miles.........
The replacement has been ordered from rockauto and will be here tomorrow.

 

Most likely fuel pressure regulator integrated into the fuel pump can in the tank.

If you keep the key in position II for a few seconds to let the fuel pressure build up, then go to crank and it starts immediately, then that's it.

 

Paul sez at this age and mileage, replace the whole assembly with the float which I can understand. That's what I'm doing today

Funny though, the price at rockauto went up $40 for the exact same Spectra Premium pump assembly the day after I ordered it!

Anyone else notice how prices are going up on almost everything these days, including gas?

 

I've been in work from home mode since March and have only filled up once since mid-March, and that was for only a $1.25 per gallon.

 

But that was then and this is now! $1.25/gal? Where the hell do you live, outer Mongolia? Costco premium is $2.49/gal after being $2.19 just a couple of weeks ago. Inflation in this country is back with a vengeance, and no notice of it on the newz! Just like unemployment is 11.9%, HA! Anyone dumb enough to believe that ................

\