engine turn over delay in cold mornings.

I just started to have a start delay of about 3 long seconds when I jump in the car in cold mornings, I turn the key and hear the pump prime and click but the engine wont turn until 3 sec later. At first it would delay for 1 sec then 2sec but last morning it was 3sec long so im starting to wory. I have to turn the key and hold it until the engine turns over and then it starts up fine.

I just bought main fuel relay about 1yr ago and so far the coil and igniter are old, I dont want to replate both unless someone could help out.

I recently had a delay on morning start ups I would have to hold the key like you said for a few seconds before it started to turn over soon after that I got a c.e.l and was to to replace the distributor and when I did problem went away I don’t kno if it’s the same for u I just thought I would chime in…

Last year when it was cold I used to get a delay before the engine would crank.
Turns out my battery was weak.

could be a numerous amount of things especially on cold weather…just simply the cold weather can make it hard for the heat to increase in the combustion chamber because its so cold so the first rotation of the crankshaft isnt gooing to start it up bcz the cylinder needs to crank a few times to increase the heat for full combustion to take place…but other things would be weak spark plugs.ignition cables. weak ign coil or ignitor…check valve in the fuel pump…clogged fuel filter…or a low battery voltage…

but if you changed your mfr and ur plugs n cables already i would say its definately time to check your cap and rotor

None of that has anything to do with the starter not engaging. What are you are you talking about? OP, the problem sounds like it is in the starting system. It could need a battery, starter, or relay. I would check for power at the switch terminal on the starter when cranking. When it does the delay see if there’s power there. If there is then its probably the starter or battery. If not the problem is in that switch circuit.

well what i siad has to do alot with cold weather n starting. But i must of read his problem wrong…but idk how people think i would always check for batt voltage first so i would eliminate that of the bat

the bat i have is a optima red top and when off the volts read 12.5v and on it reads 13.5v.

if you’re getting a delay before crank (not a slow crank or long crank, but a DELAY before crank- ie won’t turn over for a few seconds), the problem is that something is not making adequate contact in the starting circuit.
it can only be 1 of 4 things:
ignition switch
clutch interlock switch
starter relay
starter
or any wiring between them
do you hear the starter click immediately when the key is turned?

yeah I can hear it without delay and the fuel pump prime right after.
how do i go about to test all those componants or atleast checking them for any faults.

[QUOTE=da6xsi06;2196110]yeah I can hear it without delay and the fuel pump prime right after.
how do i go about to test all those componants or atleast checking them for any faults.[/QUOTE]

I agree with 90da9teg. In my case it was the starter. I went crazy looking for why I had a starting delay of three seconds. It was in the mornings as well. Is your starter the original? Its most likely going bad. A starter can work intermittenly.

After replacing mine, it starting right on queue. And has been since 2010 of May.

[QUOTE=da6xsi06;2196110]yeah I can hear it without delay and the fuel pump prime right after.
how do i go about to test all those componants or atleast checking them for any faults.[/QUOTE]

That click you hear before the pump priming is the main relay not the starter. As said above the easiest way to narrow it down would be to check for power at the small terminal on the starter when you turn the key to the crank position. You can use a test light for this. If there is power right away while the delay happens then you know it is the starter. If there is no power there until you here the starter engage after the delay, then you know the problem is in that switch circuit. If you are uncomfortable testing it then you could take it to a shop and have them test it for you. You could also just let it be but eventually something will fail completely and it won’t start.

if the click you’re hearing is coming from the engine bay, the starter is on its way out.