Ughh, this car is harder to coax to life than Lazarus....

SPECS:
E6k, 550/1600 injectors, street port, greddy td06-20g. Stock ignition.

I've been having some problems, I don't know how I can fix this. My car seems to be 50/50 whether it will start fine or do nothing. Example: This morning I moved the car early to the street. When I shut the car off, I kill the fuel pump first and right when it starts to sputter I kill the ignition, knowing it can't flood! It was cooler/dryer than now. Probably around 70-75 i'd say.

I THINK the car/tune is too lean. When I cranked this morning (and other times it does start up) it will "kick" a couple of times, like it's almost there but not quite enough to really turn the engine. You can feel the engine jolt when it happens. After only 3 kicks or so though the engine will come to life and the car runs great. Ignition crank map is at 7 degrees across the board.

When I tried to start 2 hours ago (after it was FINE this morning) it just cranks. No kick, no jolt no sputter. Just cranks. I verified temps to be 93 coolant, 96 air.

Now when I take the plugs out they aren't caked up, and they don't smell like fuel. The metal just looks slightly tarnished. Essentially, they LOOK fine. Maybe they aren't? I clean them anyway and they wind up working the next go around.

I ended up nearly killing the battery trying to start the car so I gave up for today. This has happened in the past 4 times already. I am still on the same plugs. When I take the plugs out they aren't caked up with carbon, and they don't smell like fuel/aren't wet. The metal just looks slightly tarnished. Essentially, they LOOK fine. Maybe they aren't? I clean them anyway and they wind up working the next go around with the help of a little oil in the chambers and a hand turning.

The car drives great! Idle around 12.5-13, cruising around 14-16, and boost in the low 11's. It is just a pain to start! Should I add fuel to the primer map? How about 0rpm fuel and ignition map?

Something worth noting I think: My cranking RPM's are low. The computer tells me 120RPM. Do you think this is the real problem?

 

What's ignition cranking degrees? What's your Primer map look like from -40 to 260*F?

B

 

Hey BDC, thanks for responding. Can I send you my map (what is your e-mail)? I see your name here a lot and you seem to know these haltechs very well.

"Ignition crank map is at 7 degrees across the board."

The primer map bar was at 11, 34.82MS when trying to start before.
I can send the map if it will help you help me.

FYI base fuel pressure is set to 40psi.

 

Some more info as I sit here and think about everything...
I have the BAC valve for the "cold" running. I use it to bump the idle to 1200. It's loud (still playing with Ms), but it's been doing the job. I've been running it nearly 1 year.

 

timing looks fine. the FSM says cranking timing is 5BTDC, so 7 is close enough

ive found fuel to vary by the season, and you just have to go add fuel and start the thing until its right. it can take a whole afternoon, and then again another afternoon in the winter.

best starting seems to be right on the verge of flooding

 

I'm always trying new things, which is why I guess some days it's fine, others it's not. I'm so worried about flooding, I guess I took so much fuel out the car jut couldn't start anyway! I added 50% to my primer map this morning, and the car fired right up almost instantly!

However, I sent my map to BDC and he says my tune is whacky and he's going to make me a new one