I have a 98 Formula with a 125K, I just recently have a problem where the formula will not crank on the frist crank, but the wierd part is its only within a window of time. I dont have the problem on a cold start(first thing in the morning or after car has sat for several hours) and I dont have the problem if I shut the car off and restart withing a few minutes(even if its been running at normal operating temp) Its just if its been sitting for any where between a 1/2 hour to a couple of hours. I dont get a SES light, and I inspected everything under the hood. This has me stumped? Any ideas or suggestions welcomed. Here is what I've done so far.

checked plugs, checked and cleaned Idle air control valve, MAF was cleaned, EGR chekced and cleaned, all sensor plugs reseated(except O2, crank and cam position sensors) vaccum hoses inspected, ran the tank down and refilled with fresh gas. Im suspecting either O2 sensor, computer, or cam position sensor(but I dont get a SES light???)
Please help.

 

My guess is a bad battery. Batteries don't like heat. My wifes car had the same problem recently. Not an LS1, but same exact problem. Cold start was fine. Warm start had problems with starting and sometimes didn't work. Let it sit longer, it cooled off and then would start.

 

I was going to guess fuel filter/fuel pump. Any way you can get a fuel pressure guage hooked up to see what's going on?

 

My problem may be slightly diffrent, I turn the key and nothing happens, except the guages move but the engine doesnt crank? So I have been holding the ingnition in the start position and in roughly 20 secounds it has been starting. Except his morning it was cold and rainy, and it would not start at all, but the guages move when I turn the key, and I also hear a click when I turn it.
No SES light, and it is a 2002 TA.

 

Starter getting heat soaked?

-Will

 

Do you mean the engine will not turn over or the engine will not fire up. If the engine will simply not fire up but it ins turning over, it could be your fuel pump. Try turning the key off and turning it back on for a couple seconds. Your pump should prime for two seconds first. Then when the engine starts, and builds oil pressure, the oil pressure switch will keep the fuel pump running. (all through the fuel pump relay) If the engine doesn't start off the initial fuel pump prime it may have to build oil pressure before your pump will kick back on and give you fuel pressure. So try turning the key off and back on, letting it prime again. Maybe prime it twice, then try to start it again.

Clear as mud???

 

Not saying your fuel pump is bad ofcourse. A new one could do the same thing. Basically you have to have fuel pressure.