Hows it going all.

Alright so I have a 2000 ford mustang 3.8l v6, with 116,xxx on it.
Its been starting up fine until a few days ago.
It now takes about 7 to 10 seconds to start up,
without any help from the accelerator. Sometimes when I do give it a little
extra it starts right up. Now if I turn it off and then 3 to 5 min later turn it over again it starts right up again. But if it sits for more then an hour it takes quit a bit of time to turn over. Ive tried turning over with everything on and same with everything off almost no difference in start up time.

The car has everything original to the engine and exhaust that I know of. I do live in a hot climate Albuquerque NM dry summer heat I know is killer on cars. But always idles fine and runs perfect once its running.

Now well on the highway I did need to push her kind of hard. Accidentally red lined for about 5 secs. I don't know if this is relevant other then after red lining is when the problem started .

Things Ive checked.
Oil is fine, Air filter is fine. Cleaned MAF and that is still fine. No leaking fluids. No other side affects other then takes a little longer then it should to start.

Also is it possible that the timing belt slipped.Or did I f up one of the spark plugs or fuel injectors. Or could this be a throttle body/tps sensor issue. Or am I way off. Going for a full tune up by the end of the month but would like to fix it sooner.

 

Also I noticed when I try starting the car with the accelerator to the floor it doesn't turn over at all. Is there some kind of fail safe or is the engine just flooding or whats the deal.

If people new how to f***** drive. I wouldn't have had to push her so hard. And I had know choice I couldn't miss the exit, next exit to pull a U. Would of been 50 miles. I went from 5 to 2 got all I could and moved up and over then sifted to 3. But this is totally e relvant.

But ya thanks actually I'm thinking I'm going to move up my tune up by a couple weeks.

 

Could be as easy as your spark plugs are destroyed. hopefully something
that easy and your not looking at any major repairs.

 

Prime the fuel pump a couple times before you start it next. If it starts up easier you have a fuel issue. Could be simply a dirty fuel filter.

 

Ok so its official. I'm never going to buy any other car other then a ford mustang for as long as I live.

So the deal was, I was having starting issues. Sunday night after work I get in turn it over and after that Its been running perfect.
I did absolutely nothing to the car other then drive her like I have been.

So I guess the slogan is true. Built FORD TOUGH.

Thanks for all your help guys but it doesn't look like I'm going to need it.

See you around.

 

Actually people fail to realize how nasty some places fuel can be. I've seen chunks of trash 1/4" in diameter come out of people's filters. It happens more often than people think.

 

Ya I would agree. Albuquerque is produces some of its own fuel. And I wouldn't doubt how bad quality control could probably get around here.