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About four months ago out of the blue my car began having difficulty starting. It would take 4 separate cranking attempts to get it started (one odd quark was that if I let the car sit overnight it would start on first attempt, but everytime after that it would take 4 attempts). Had it at 5 different shops, no one could figure it out.
Along the way trying to get it figured out we've replaced a lot of sensors and parts at the recommendation of various shops as they sought to diagnosis and fix it: fuel pump, fuel filter, engine coolant temp sensor, fuel pressure sensor, spark plugs, MAF, PCV, injectors (3 different sets), etc.
After a few times at one particular shop (and $1000+ later...) they said they replaced the secondary fuel pump regulator VOILA, it's now starting on first attempt.I'm wondering where this secondar fuel pump regulator is and how I or the other shops missed this.
*Of course I've got some misfire issues going on cylinders 4 and 5 but at least the car fires up now.
After a few times at one particular shop (and $1000+ later...) they said they replaced the secondary fuel pump regulator VOILA, it's now starting on first attempt...
Was there any sort of part number on the invoice? That might help identify what was actually replaced.
No I haven't seen the invoice yet. They told me to take the car to drive it a few days before settling the bill. Of course in that time period the car through misfire codes 4/5 which I'm trying to resolve on my own before deciding if I need to take it back to them and settle the bill/invoice.
Ok so here is what the latest shop said they replaced, which seemed to fix my intermittent starting problem. I want to find out where this item is located, because I previously had replaced my fuel pressure sensor (on the fuel rail) and it didn't fix my starting problem. Several times in and out of this shop and a few thousand $$$ later they replaced this part and now my car starts up regularly.
Ok yes that's one of the first ones I replaced when my car began having issues. Are there two of them on the car or one? Because the shop said it was a "secondary fuel regulator" that they replaced. To me that sounds as if there is another one. Or is the primary one part of the fuel pump or fuel line system?
DOH! Then I'm the most staunch advocate for never using other than OEM or high quality name brand parts for all cars. This regulator is one that I initially had replaced at the beginnig of the debacle. Instead of paying for the oem part or at least a good quality brand I opted for a no brand one and here I am....4 months later, 5 different shops and several thousand $$ poorer when I could have simply bought the higher quality part. Instead me and several shops went chasing our tales.
