Questions and Answers

Lumina Intermittent Hard Start Q. Hello, Very intermittent problem. After driving around a while, I shut the car off to go into a store or the P.O. and when I try to start the car it stumbles and dies. I wait a minute or two and then it starts and everything is fine for another six or seven days. Then it might happen again.

No "SERVICE ENGINE" light, and one repair shop told me there were no codes stored. Usually when this happens I notice a very foul odor from the exhaust. Almost like a rotten egg smell. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1995 Chevy Lumina Sedan
3.1 liter V-6
110,000 miles

Thanks,
Mike

A. The rotten egg odor is a key piece of the puzzle! Sounds like it's leaking down fuel pressure when shut off (sometimes). A good place to start is to check the fuel pressure regulator. It's under the hood on the fuel rail. If you pull the little vacuum line off the regulator there should be NO fuel dripping from it or the regulator. It can leak intermittently which would flood out the engine.