Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Occasional Long Crank

Kon

Kon

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2020
Messages
680
Location
Athens, Greece
After reading that anti-drain (check) valves in either the pump or the regulator are the main cause of this issue I decided to replace them. First I did the regulator and then got a new fuel pump (both original Mopar parts) but the occasional delay in starting still persists.

I should point out that Jeep always starts but it may delay 2-3 seconds and having this issue for several time now I have been unable to find a pattern apart from the fact that it never occurs back to back. So if I experience the delay, shut it off and immediately turn it on again it will start up with no delay, for sure.

However, apart from that the delay may happen after a couple of hours since of the Jeep sitting or after several days and also in both hot and cold weather (from 40 to 104 degrees that are the temperatures in Athens year round).

Any thoughts on what I should check next? Thanks!
 
So the delay is from when you turn the key to when the motor rotates, or you turn the key and the motor immediately turns but cranks an extended time?
Hope that question makes sense?
 
What if you turn the key to run and off letting it prime 3-5 times before cranking. Does the long crank still occur?
 
ItchyDong said:
What if you turn the key to run and off letting it prime 3-5 times before cranking. Does the long crank still occur?
Click to expand...

I have not tried that for a decent amount of consecutive starts as I tend to forget. I will try to do that for say a couple of week once or twice per day to see if there is a pattern there. Thanks.
 
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In or out and all around. I’m just wondering if a fuel line anywhere from the tank to an injector is leaking causing a loss of fuel pressure?
 
Thanks for mentioning fuel pressure as it was my omission not to mention that I went by my garage after my mechanic suggested we measure the fuel pressure at the rail which seems to be perfectly fine. Fuel injectors were fine along with engine compression. I'm stuck on what to search next...
 
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So after extensively searching the issue, it almost always seemed to be one of the check valves )located in the pump and regulator) or in some cases the spark plugs.

@Jerry Bransford I saw countless post of yours on the web mentioning the check valve is the most common issue and that even after replacing one you still didn't resolved the problem and had to replace it again. Having recently replaced both fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator with mopar parts, what would you suggest to do as a next step? Thanks!
 
After searching more on this one I found this in another forum;

++

If long start problems, with good runing after start and with fast start after put key on 3 sec/off/on 3 sec/off/on 3 sec/start. the common causes are:

1-bad gas pump and/or its regulator, 2-leak gas line,
3-injectors and/or their o-rings seals leaking,
4-injection rail leak.

Others possible rare causes maybe: 5-bad gas tank vent or breather clogged, gas cap (but in these case the vehicule lost power at high rpm and first start well),
6-bad trottle body or it's gasket,( but usualy in these case the vehicule had rough runing)
7-bad timing belt,
8- intake manifold or bad admission valve (but usualy in these case the vehicule had rough runing and/or knockin'.

++

As mentioned above, (1) has been covered as new pump and fuel pressure regulator have been recently changed (mopar parts). Then pressure at the rail was measured and found to be correct and there are no leaks in the injectors or the fuel lines (2,3 & 4).

I ordered today six new mopar spark plugs as I red that they could be the cause of the issue.

In my case, when the engine stars after the intermittent delayed/long crank, it runs smoothly with no hard idle or other issues, so 5, 6 & 8 (if the quote is correct) should not bother me. I have removed and cleans the throttle body through just in case.

Let me know of your ideas…
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator
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