Ive owned my '01 XJ for about 6 months now, and since I bought it I always had a hard time with it starting. Let me preface this by saying, the LONGER I let it sit, the easier it is to start. I'm talking days, not hours though.

Every morning when I start it, normally it will start almost right away, maybe a few cranks. From then on all throughout the day it takes 2 key turns to make it fire. Turn, crank crank crank crank crank, let it go, turn, crank crank crank FIRE. Once it fires up it runs a little rough for a few seconds, then smooths out. Once it has smoothed out, I have good oil pressure and the truck runs awesome. I did however get a po303 "CYL 3 misfire" code the other day.

Anyhow, I've already checked the fuel pressure at the rail to see if it looses pressure, which it does not. Makes sense since it will fire perfectly if I don't touch it for a day or so. I have checked the IAC valve which looks like it had been replaced, and I cleaned that up. I wrapped the fuel rail and injectors in 2000 deg heat wrap because I thought it might be a vapor lock issue. That didn't work. I have also changed the plugs and that didn't do anything. Yesterday I changed the crank position sensor, and it didn't do anything either. It seems to maybe run a bit smoother, but no change in the way it cranks.

At this point I don't know where to go. I hate to bring the truck to the dealer to have them diagnose it, I really don't have the extra cash for that and I hate other people working on my vehicles. I'd really like to fix it, I just need some suggestions as to where to look next.

 

TTT!

 

Only code you got was P0303?

Have you ever changed the spark plugs?

 

Yep, I mentioned that in the first post. I also get a po456 code occasionally. I changed the gas cap to a new OEM one this weekend and even though I cleared the code, it came back again today.

 

Have you checked to see if the #3 cylinder boot is clean?
Sorry if this seems obvious...

 

I have not checked, but that is something worthwhile. Aside from the po303 code, could that contribute to the hard starting?