i have a 2000XJ with just over 200k on it. engine only has about 80k miles on it and it is very hard to start. it always eventually fires up, but it feels like the engine/starter are really laboring to turnover. once it fires up, it runs good...a little rough idle, but nothing i wouldnt expect. Battery and spark plugs are brand new, alternator is good and so is the starter and starter relay. my question is, could a vacuum leak somewhere cause this condition? and if so, how do i find where the leak is? Any and all help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

Is it hard to start ONLY when cold, or is it hard to start both warm AND cold?

Important distinction.....

 

Well his location says MD, and it is winter in MD. Id assume cold.

 

From what it sounds like you need to make sure you have a bttery with more than sufficient CCA's, check power and ground cables, and make sure your not running some crazy thick oil.

 

it is hard to start both cold and hot.

battery was tested at Advance Auto parts and has sufficient cold cranking amps.

 

Fuel pressure testing with a GAUGE would be advisable.

You may be experiencing a "pressure drop" which is creating the hard starts.

And if when it starts, it stumbles for a few seconds, you may have a leaky fuel injector as the cause for both the stumble and the hard start.

For a 2000, you should have 49 psi at idle, plus or minus 5 psi.

Fuel pressure gauges can be rented from many big box parts stores.

 

cool. thanks. i'm replacing the blower motor resistor, air filter and cleaning the throttle body this weekend. i'll see if i can get my hands on a gauge for the FP. never replaced a fuel injector before...is it difficult?

 

If it's laboring to start I doubt it's fuel related unless timing would be off