Hesitant to start

[micoface]

In the past week my 1994 325is has been occasionally hesitant to start.
The car cranks but doesn't want to start, but when it does start it runs fine.
Sometimes after turning the key to start the car and it doesn't start I'll turn the key back to the off position and try again which will start the car but also makes the wipers run a couple of times!?!
Sometimes the stereo asks for the code after starting!?!
There was no "event" that occurred that should have caused this sudden condition.
There is also no pattern of the symptom and it just seems to happen randomly.
I did check the plugs and they were dry and looked healthy, so I'm assuming that's not the problem.
It doesn't feel like an electrical problem, but what's up with the wipers and the stereo?
Not sure what steps to take to figure this out.
I drive the car daily and still feel that it's reliable as the condition doesn't seem to be getting worse...
But I'm not sure how long it will be before I get stranded somewhere because of this!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Jeron]

The wipers running seems really strange.

I would turn the ign ON and let the radio come on before starting so that you can see if the START function is what is killing the radio code. If the radio is only dying due to the START then I would suspect the problem is in the steering column.

[micoface]

Thanks Jeron, but the wipers and the radio are not really what is concerning me.
That happens rarely, it's that hesitation to start that I feel is really the issue.
The ignition works every time, but the engine feels like it's not getting what it needs to start sometimes.
It almost feels like it's flooded?
I forgot to mention that it seems to happen more after the car has been sitting for a while...
Not for a LONG while, as it hasn't really gone more than a day or two without being driven.
If I just turn the car off to run into a store or get gas or whatever... It starts right back up every time.
But again I should stress that I really don't feel that the problem is electrical because I'm sure that statement would make many feel the need to check the battery or alternator.
I've read so much on troubleshooting this the past couple of days and I'm inclined to lean toward issues of fuel, compression, relays, etc...

[Jeron]

I see. Its trying to start but not starting quickly. I thought it was hesitating before activating starter.

So when it is hesitating to start does the starter turn normal pace or slower than normal?

It could be the fuel relay or the fuel pressure regulator. Do you have to turn it to OFF or can you just release the START back to ON and try START again?

It could be in the ign key cylinder which may cause the radio problem.

[micoface]

Starter turns normal pace.

I don't like to let it crank for too long without starting, so when it takes too long I always turn the key back to the OFF position and try again.

Actually, if I remember correctly, the ignition locks me out of START when I just go to the ON position...
So I HAVE to go to OFF then try again.

???

[Jeron]

It shouldnt lock you out of START. I still think its the ign key cyl.

[Manolito]

The combination of starting problem, weird wiper activation, radio power going dead, and worse after the car sits a while, make me think in terms of a ground wire. If you have a voltmeter, see if the engine stays at chassis ground potential while someone cranks the starter. I would remove and clean both ends of the ground at your battery and also the engine ground which is probably at your passenger side engine mount. The only thing that does not 'fit' is that a poor ground in either place should cause the starter to crank sluggishly.

Another thing that can make a car hard to start after it sits a while is a leaking injector that drains the fuel rail into the intake manifold, or a leaking check valve in the fuel system that lets the fuel rail drain to the tank. You have to wait while the fuel rail refills before the car will start. That would explain why the car starts the second time. The fuel rail is filling any time the key is in the On position.

[Jeron]

Originally Posted by Manolito

Another thing that can make a car hard to start after it sits a while is a leaking injector that drains the fuel rail into the intake manifold, or a leaking check valve in the fuel system that lets the fuel rail drain to the tank. You have to wait while the fuel rail refills before the car will start. That would explain why the car starts the second time. The fuel rail is filling any time the key is in the On position.

This is what I was thinking with the fuel pressure regulator.

[micoface]

Thanks to both of you for the info.
I'm going to have these things looked into hopefully by this weekend.
I'll report back with my findings!