Hot start issues

1995 4x4, extended cap, 4 cylinder, 5-speed. All stock except for the 2001+ tubular exhaust manifold. Only 160,000 miles.

... so I have been having some intermittent "hot start" issues.

If I stop and run into a store, the Post Office, maybe fill up with gas, everything is fine, no problems.

But if I leave it for 10-15 minutes (long line at the bank today), it just wants to crank without firing. It will eventually start after 10-15 seconds of cranking.

But NO other issues; no trouble codes, no stalling, hesitation, or misfiring. As soon as it fires up, it runs fine. Even passed California's smog inspection last month ("driven" on a dyno)

I did read about the water temp sensor behind the head, and sure enough that fell apart in my hands when I removed it a few months ago. I replaced the distributor cap and rotor and the plugs then too. Seemed to solve the problem, but I don't drive it much (once a week), until today when it happened twice.

Looking for suggestions.

 

Maybe indicative of a leaking cylinder.......either fuel from an injector

or most likely water.......

if its an injector leak its damaging the piston....

if its water then its a head gasket or worst a crack in the cylinder head

if its water ....it will get worse over time


when it wont start ....you can pull a plug(s) and find which cylinder is causing the problem...
....switching that wet plug with a fresh will get you home

if its a bad head gasket....its usually cyl #3 or #4

again if its head gasket.....it will slowly get worse

if its a crack in the head between valves......fluid loss will be intermittent......good days/bad days


In these old 2rz/3rz engines its really important to change that coolant about every 4 yrs.....before it turns acidic

 

Next time it does it check for spark.

 

I searched for weeks…….Hot No Start

turned out to be injectors for me