I have a 1999 Blaze, 4wd, with 140,000 miles. Here's the deal. I have to turn the ignition 3/4 the way, 4-5 times before it will start (just before ignition). If I don't the Blaze will just crank and crank...WTF!

I've owned the Blaze for about 5 years and it ran great when I bought it, no mechanical problems. At 100,000 I had a full tune-up;plugs,wires,cap,pcv,fuel filter, and it continued to run great. At about 110,000 I had the fuel pump and MAF sensor changed because it would die if I floored it and the fuel pump was not at correct psithis is where it starts. Since then I've replaced the fuel pump again as well as the fuel pressure regulator and have had a fuelsystem/injector flushbecause the darn thing will not start under normal operationit still will not start with one turn! I cannot simply just jump in, in the morning and start it, I have to go through this routine of turning the key 3/4 the way 3-5 x's to "prime" it,thecurrent fuel pump is good and I can hear it turn on.Once started, it runs great, idles great, tows great. I'll drive it for about 3 miles, shut it off, hop in, and do the same routine again all day everyday. If it's parked for a week I'll do the start routine and she'll fire, but if I start it first thing in the morning, move it several feet in the drive, shut it off, and leave it for a couple hours it won't start no matter how many x's I "prime" it, it'll just crank... the only thing that works is if I jump it with another car and that takes about 5-8 tries for me to start it.I've never had it diagnosed, just local mechanics who think they know, and to be honest I've become accustomed to starting my car this way, but now it's getting under my skin. My question: could this be the CPI spider?? or should I just go into a shop and have them try to diagnose it?

Any advice/help is appreciated. I've been a fan of this forum for a while and tried to do some research of other problems alike but no luck.

Thank you

 

Definitely sounds like a bad ignition switch to me.

A 99 does not have a CPI spider. Has a SCFI spider, but they do not have anywhere near the problems of the older CPI spider.

 

I see you're a FF, I commend you! I guess this makes us brothers I'm a FF/EMT here in Michigan. Be safe out there! As to the question, I'm curious...why would it be the ignition switch? Can I pretty much rule out the fuel injection system then...? I don't have the mechanical knowledge that you have so I would have never guessed anything other than a F.I problem.

Thank you very much for replying

 

The repeated attempts is what points me towards ignition switch, but you can test the fuel pressure just to be sure.

If the problem were to be worse the longer it sits, then I would say the fuel system is at fault. If the fuel pressure were to be bleeding off (leak), then it can cause a hard start condition, but it should not take 5 tries to start it. One key cycle to prime the system, then the next should start no problems. If it is leaking internal to the plenum, then you could hold the throttle down flat to see if that would clear the rich fuel condition allowing it to start.

Oh and yeah! Good for you too on being a fellow FF. Thankless jobs most of the time.

 

At this time I believe it to be the fuel system...it's just sooo tempermental at times, also the colder it gets the worse/longer it takes to start, and once it's started in runs great, only on start up is the problem. As you say "the rich fuel" is what I believe is making the car start in the morning...there's no way I can start it, shut it off, and start it againeven if there's a full tankI have to drive it atleast a mile for it to start the rest of the day, if not, I have to jump it with my other car which seems to spark something.

Any suggestions as what to replace as far as the fuel system???

Thanks again!

 

Test, always test. Taking the shotgun approach to fixing your vehicle will leave you frustrated and broke.

If you suspect the fuel system, start with a fuel pressure test including a leak down test. I put together a post in the DIY section explaining the proper procedure for testing and the results you should expect.

I guess I would like some more clarification on the condition... In your first post, you made it sound like every time you started it, you had to do a key-dance to get it to start. In the reply above, it sounds like if you drive it for a bit, it will restart properly from then on until it sits... Which is it?

 

Keydance, always the keydance no matter what. What I'm saying is that if I drive it several miles, park it at a store, it will restart fine with the keydance, but if I move it several feet in the drive, park it, restarting it is a pain with the keydance...it will almost never restart unless I drive the car several miles to build up fuel pressure. I've tested the fuel pump and it's above normal for operating mode.

 

Driving several miles does not build up the fuel pressure. If the engine is running, you have sufficient fuel pressure.

Since you are having to do the keydance all of the time, I really suspect a bad ignition switch.

 

I'll take your advice and do the fuel pressure and leak down test. If I run into trouble then I'll succomb to the local dealership [:'(].
Thank you very much for your time and expertise....much appreciated!!