Re: Long crank time on 89 200

[Todd Joseph <todd@ConnActivity.ConnActivity.com>]

I have the exact same symptoms.  Are you getting good gas mileage?
I'm not.  Not exactly sure what the MPG it is though as
odometer/speedo is on the fritz til I ground the instrument cluster.

Have you tried making the mixture more lean?  I've been planning on
adjusting the mixture more lean (as I know it's too rich).  Any
thoughts on doing this?  How do I know what's too lean?  

Todd
------------
>I bought this '89 200 last year and it always cranked a long time before
>starting-in the order of 5-6 seconds- when cold.  That is, after 20-30
>minutes.  When real cold, it would take only 2-3 seconds cranking before
>starting.  After starting, it would run a little rough for a few
>seconds, smooth right out and run fine.  Sometimes, there would be a
>gasoline smell accompanying this exercise.  I took the advice of a
>Q-lister and stuck a q-tip into each cylinder through the spark plug
>hole after letting it set for the problematic period-20 to 30 minutes.
>I found fuel in one cylinder, ordered a new injector, installed it and
>found that it started real well after that -- for the first day.  I
>tried it about 3-4 times.  At the begining of the second day, it took a
>little longer to start; at the end of the day, it was back to 5-6
>seconds cranking.  Maddening!!
>
>I pulled all the plugs and checked again and there was no sign of fuel
>leaking; the plugs looked a little misty but not really moist and there
>were the clear symptoms of the oily material working its way up the
>threads of the plug.  Is there a relationship here between hard starting
>and this oily stuff that could be semi-fouling the plugs?   It acts like
>it's handling a rich condition.  Could the cold start system be
>suspect?  Any other suggestions?
>
>Larry
>