5 to 6 cranks to starts

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andcunning

Joined
Nov 21, 2025
Threads
17
Messages
85
Location
Austin, TX
Well, like the title says I’m chasing a long crank issue on my LX-450. It takes 5-6 cranks to start when cold, it takes 4-5 to start when warmed up… maybe 5-6. I know the pump doesn’t prime when the key is in the on position, but I tried it anyways a few time and every time I try priming the fuel pump it makes no difference.

I’ve done the following already:
New fuel pump
New PCV valve, lines, and gasket
New charcoal canister
New FPR valve (had a bit of fuel in the vacuum line of the old one)
New spark plugs
New distributor cap
New rotor
New air filter
Entire coolant system rebuild (all hoses, radiator, and coolant)
New Interstate battery
New battery leads

I have a fuel filter and some Bosch injectors if I have to replace them, but I don’t think the injectors are the issue since it runs so smoothly when driving.

Idles are smooth enough with little hiccups every minute or so but still very smooth. I can just feel a little change in. Pose for a split second.

When I start the car I do smell a bit of gas, but once it warms up I smell nothing.

I had fuel tank pressure issues before the charcoal canister replacement.

After the spark plugs it ran much smoother. The original plugs were very worn.

After the fuel pump replacement the cranks got MUCH faster. Almost double time if not a bit more. The faster cranks however are still around the same count.

The service history shows the PO had crank issues from time to time. He had the starter replaced 3 times. He had injectors replaced at 95k miles. I’m at 227k right now.

Anybody have any idea what I should do next?
 
Is there a problem if it cranks 5-6 times? Mine always does, never thought of it as a problem.
 
I thought mine was bad with 3-4 cranks. I’ve done most of the stuff you have. One weekend a couple of weeks ago it was starting on the first crank then stopped doing that. Interested to see what yall got for a solution.
 
andcunning said:
Well, like the title says I’m chasing a long crank issue on my LX-450. It takes 5-6 cranks to start when cold, it takes 4-5 to start when warmed up… maybe 5-6. I know the pump doesn’t prime when the key is in the on position, but I tried it anyways a few time and every time I try priming the fuel pump it makes no difference.

I’ve done the following already:
New fuel pump
New PCV valve, lines, and gasket
New charcoal canister
New FPR valve (had a bit of fuel in the vacuum line of the old one)
New spark plugs
New distributor cap
New rotor
New air filter
Entire coolant system rebuild (all hoses, radiator, and coolant)
New Interstate battery
New battery leads

I have a fuel filter and some Bosch injectors if I have to replace them, but I don’t think the injectors are the issue since it runs so smoothly when driving.

Idles are smooth enough with little hiccups every minute or so but still very smooth. I can just feel a little change in. Pose for a split second.

When I start the car I do smell a bit of gas, but once it warms up I smell nothing.

I had fuel tank pressure issues before the charcoal canister replacement.

After the spark plugs it ran much smoother. The original plugs were very worn.

After the fuel pump replacement the cranks got MUCH faster. Almost double time if not a bit more. The faster cranks however are still around the same count.

The service history shows the PO had crank issues from time to time. He had the starter replaced 3 times. He had injectors replaced at 95k miles. I’m at 227k right now.

Anybody have any idea what I should do next?
Click to expand...
What you should have started with is the service manual. Have you checked the fuel pressure regulator?
 
the gas you smell when cold is just the vehicle running in open loop, once o2 sensors come to temp, it switches to closed loop operation with better fuelling trims. 80s run notoriously rich when cold. Mine cranks over super quick these days, but I did a whole lot of things, so I'm not sure what it was that shortened cranking time unfortunately.
 
petegangies said:
the gas you smell when cold is just the vehicle running in open loop, once o2 sensors come to temp, it switches to closed loop operation with better fuelling trims. 80s run notoriously rich when cold. Mine cranks over super quick these days, but I did a whole lot of things, so I'm not sure what it was that shortened cranking time unfortunately.
Click to expand...
What did you do that I haven’t done?
 
TX80CC said:
I thought mine was bad with 3-4 cranks. I’ve done most of the stuff you have. One weekend a couple of weeks ago it was starting on the first crank then stopped doing that. Interested to see what yall got for a solution.
Click to expand...

Shoredreamer said:
Is there a problem if it cranks 5-6 times? Mine always does, never thought of it as a problem.
Click to expand...
same here, been that way since new.

Sometimes it starts immediately but most of the time around 4-5 cranks. My theory is maybe unburnt fuel left in a cyl and it near TDC so its compressed and gets a spark immediatley , i dont know but as long as it starts :)

i also have LPG and that is almost instantaneous cause the system squirts a bit of petrol in as soon as the IGN is turned on
 
andcunning said:
Anybody have any idea what I should do next?
Click to expand...
Swap to a carb!🤣

JK, but, IMO, the 1FZ carby that I've driven starts better than a 1FZ-FE, even at 8k feet. Pump the pedal twice, hold it just slightly, turn the key, and, boom, starts within the first few, (sometimes the 1st) cranks.
 
andcunning said:
What did you do that I haven’t done?
Click to expand...

Off the top of my head.. but may be missing something. I've done a heap to this thing in the past 2 years. Almost everything has been refreshed/replaced or adjusted. My vehicle only has 153,000kms mileage (94 model).

New NGK ignition leads
New IACV
TPS adjusted
ignition timing adjusted
all new exhaust gaskets
new o2 sensor
throttle body, injectors and manifold cleaned
valves clearances checked and adjusted
fusible links replaced with aftermarket fuse block
new fuel filter
 
Update. I ran the truck an hour yesterday after the fuel pump work I did with no issues aside from the new, very fast, 5-6 cranks. This AM, after sitting overnight, the truck cranked slower than the previous day and stuttered when starting and the lights on the dash died during the stutter. Luckily the truck started up during the stutter while all the lights went dead and everything came back to life. It started fine the 4 times I tried after. It did start with a super irregular crank count though. Right after it started in 3 very fast cranks. Then I shut it off and let it sit a minute and it started in 6 cranks that were slower. Then another minute and it started in 3 cranks that were fast.
 
andcunning said:
i have installed a new fuel pressure regulator. First thing I did.
Click to expand...
Installing a new regulator isn't the same thing as verifying the fuel pressure at the fuel pressure regulator. Hence the comment about using the service manual.
 
Malleus said:
Installing a new regulator isn't the same thing as verifying the fuel pressure at the fuel pressure regulator. Hence the comment about using the service manual.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I just misunderstood! I looked through the FSM and didn't see anything about verifying the pressure at the fuel pressure regulator. I'm sure just user error, but had used the search function on the LX450 FSM for fuel pressure and didn't see this specific procedure. Any help is appreciated, and I'll go ahead and check the FP there.
 
andcunning said:
Update. I ran the truck an hour yesterday after the fuel pump work I did with no issues aside from the new, very fast, 5-6 cranks. This AM, after sitting overnight, the truck cranked slower than the previous day and stuttered when starting and the lights on the dash died during the stutter. Luckily the truck started up during the stutter while all the lights went dead and everything came back to life. It started fine the 4 times I tried after. It did start with a super irregular crank count though. Right after it started in 3 very fast cranks. Then I shut it off and let it sit a minute and it started in 6 cranks that were slower. Then another minute and it started in 3 cranks that were fast.
Click to expand...
sounds like you have a battery on the way out based on the above
 
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