Hard Starting

[PAUL T]

Lately my 94 Concours has been getting harder to start first thing in the morning. This morning it cranked a while then backfired, making a good bit of smoke come out around the plastic cover. I suspect the fuel pressure regulator leaking gas overnight flooding the engine, thus causing hard morning start. I have not checked it yet, the car starts fine all day after the hard morning starts. There was only a P074 history code present. Anyone else have this problem?

[rmac-etc]

To reinforce Guru (as if he needed credibility-ha!), I recently had a fpr failure, but the problem was starting hot, not cold.

I am curious though about running the engine without the manifold cover. This has been mentioned in the past, and I puzzled over it. I have 95 etc with 137k miles. When the fpr failed I took the cover off, verified that it really was the fpr, ordered the part from gmpartsdirect, received it a couple of days later, installed the new fpr then replaced the cover. So I drove the car for 3-4 days sans cover.

So what is the cover doing for us, other than just lookin good?

[98Concours]

For the 95 and up, the cover is just for looks. The 94's and earlier N* the cover is part of the manifold.

Jeff

[PAUL T]

I noticed this morning that, when I tap the gas pedal once before starting, it started easier. I thought maybe it was the battery voltage being too low, but I think the battery is o.k. and it is in the fuel delivery system. Is there any PCM data values to watch? I should mention that the mileage is at 110,000. I know I need to check the plugs.

I know from the board that when the manifold cover is off and you start the car, it will run WIDE OPEN. Not good!!

Thanks for the info BBobynski, not exactly what I wanted to hear, but thanks a bunch. I know from experience that the FPR is a whole lot easier to change than the fuel pump.