[EcSTSatic]

Just something for you to keep in the back of your minds or search on at a later date. I wanted to wait until I put a few miles on the car before I was sure it was fixed;
My '99 STS was taking multiple attempts at cranking to start the car. It was intermittent, but got steadily worse. It didn't matter if the car or outside temp was hot or cold.
I changed the plugs first - no help. Ah well, they had 70K on them anyway. Next I inspected the fuel pressure regulator (FPR). Early on in the problem, no fuel was coming out but I thought I could smell fuel if I got up close. Weeks later when the problem was worse, I revisited the FPR. This time it was leaking. I ordered a new one from Rockauto.com. It was an easiy swap. The problem is gone. It starts easily on the first attempt everytime now.

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[mcowden]

Just something for you to keep in the back of your minds or search on at a later date. I wanted to wait until I put a few miles on the car before I was sure it was fixed;
My '99 STS was taking multiple attempts at cranking to start the car. It was intermittent, but got steadily worse. It didn't matter if the car or outside temp was hot or cold.
I changed the plugs first - no help. Ah well, they had 70K on them anyway. Next I inspected the fuel pressure regulator (FPR). Early on in the problem, no fuel was coming out but I thought I could smell fuel if I got up close. Weeks later when the problem was worse, I revisited the FPR. This time it was leaking. I ordered a new one from Rockauto.com. It was an easiy swap. The problem is gone. It starts easily on the first attempt everytime now.

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Good show! Glad you got it figured out. I just went through a very similar problem. Ranger suggested I put a vacuum pump on the FPR to see if it would hold a vacuum. It didn't. I never saw any fuel come out of it with the car running or stopped. Don't know why, but it only leaked when under a vacuum. Replaced FPR, starts and runs like a dream again. For anyone wondering, replacing the FPR is a 5-minute job that can be done with either no tools or 1, depending on which intake cover you have. Get the replacement part and do it in your garage for a lot less than it would cost to take it to a mechanic or <gasp> a $tealer$hip.

Motor on...

 

[boricuacaddy]

I too had the same problem I searched the forum and asked for help and was directed in the right direction (FPR). It was actually an easy diagnose and fix. My car is now starting like it should. No more embarrassing cranks before it would start. By the way before I came to this forum I called the dealer and they told me if it's the FPR, it would be around $300+ to fix. I paid 56.00 and did it myself in 5 minutes. Talk about highway robbery, Go figure..