I have a 2004 LS with 86,000 miles on it that I don;t drive much.

Over the past few years, when the car sits for a few days, when I start it for the first time that day, sometimes it start and immediately dies out, It restarts, stays running and idles smooth. And this die out on initial start only happens once a month or so.

The car has the original plugs but runs smooth all the time.

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this condition as since it happens so infrequently, I doubt the dealer would have an easy time diagnosing this.

The car cranks fine and the engine runs for a split second or two before dying like I turned the switch to OFF. Starting it again the car cranks fine and then stay running.

Also don't think it's bad gas because after it dies the first time it starts and runs fine the second time, so it's getting the same gas.

It seems like it's not getting much fuel volume initially like there is only enough in the fuel rails for a few cycles of the engine and then their must be a gap in the fuel delivery that is resolved by the second crank and start.

But again it is intermittent and I haven;t been able to isolate any conditions (cold weather, length of days between last running, level of gas in the tank, etc.) that might be causing it.

 

I'm wondering if there is some type of anti-drainback device in the fuel system that is allowing the fuel to return back to the tank when you don't operate the car for an extended period of time? It would be nice to know how long the fuel pump runs when the the car's ignition switch is first turned to the run position. Other than a minor annoyance, I'm not sure I'd do anything about this problem if it were happening on my car.

As an aside, I can hear the fuel pump operate for about two seconds when I first turn the key on my motorcycle to the run position. I have had similar experiences on the bike when it has sat for an extended period of time...