Help: Start up problems - 2002 S281 S/C

[Titans0986]

I bought an 02 sonic blue s/c w/ under 21,000 miles on it 3 months ago. As time went on I noticed that when I would start my car up it would take a good 3-4 seconds to get the engine going then suddenly it would die on me. This is not me stalling at all. On the second try I would get it to work every time. Well this has been happening a little more frequently as of late and I can't identify what the problem could be. I've had diagnostics run on it from 2 diff shops with no luck. Could this be old parts that need to get swapped out or is there some internal problem going on? Any pointers would be appreciated. Thank you

[tennesseemustangperformance]

Not likely to be internal. How is your fuel pressure? When you mention a shop checking the codes, you do mean one that has the ability to deep scan the computer, not a place like Auto Zone, right? Reason I ask is because places like AZ and Advance Auto Parts use a basic OBD-II scanner that only pulls up codes off the CEL light, where as shops that use an actual deep scan can go much further and pull up issues that others will not. I used to use the Snap-On MT-2500 and would constantly pull up issues on cars that others would not. The downside to this is that it made me the most popular guy among my friends whenever anything acted up on their car ("free scan please? :+)")

I am guessing something as simple as an IAC, vacuum leak, EGR valve, fuel filter or pump. Typically, an IAC valve will die any time the engine is not loaded up, even when warm, but I have seen them begin to head south and only cause issues on start up on occasion. With 21K on the clock and the car being 12 years old, I would change the fuel filter and clean the lines out first. You could easily have some gumming in the fuel system due to crappy modern ethanol fuels and the car sitting for extended durations at a time. I would all but rule out the internals, if this were the case then the problem would not be sporadic, and would not cause this issue.

[Rick5150]

My 2003 is having the same problem, I store the car for the winter and tried to start her today with no luck. Frustrating... I've got 25k on it and I've been Lucky so far with no issues over the years. I can't even get the K&N air filter off to spray some starting fluid to get her going.....