I have a 1996 Camaro RS with a 3.8 liter v6 and 115,000 miles. As of last year, as soon as I tried to start the car, it would catch very quickly and run smoothly. I have noticed in the last 6 months that it seems to take longer to start and runs a little rough for 5 to 10 seconds until it runs smoothly. After this point it runs fine. It appears to be getting worse in that it has been taking a few tries of cranking until it catches and starts. It has a new battery so that is not the problem and I have fresh gas in the tank. It is strange that once it warms up, there are no problems with it running and it appears to have all its power.

Does anyone know what would be causing this and what I can do to fix it?

Thank you.

 

What you are talking about is a cold driveabilty issue. What you are going to get on most forums is "this happened to me and it was X" then someone else is going to post "it happened to me and it was Y". Fact is it could be any of a 100 things. Many very serious problems start off as just a small issue cold then grow into a major issue over time. Sometimes its nothing.

IMO step one. Make sure everything is up to date.
Plugs(how old?), Plug wires(How old?), Air filter, Fuel filter, If you don't know how old the stuff is then replace it and write it down. There is no way to look at plug wire and see if they are ok. There is a test but it will cost more then the plug wires.

After you sure everything is up to date next would be to clean the IAC and the IAC ports and clean and check for sealing on the EGR valve re-torque upper and lower intake look for cracked vacuum lines. A quick youtube search will get you some how too videos. Next send your injectors to be cleaned. A vacuum test and a fuel pressure test may see something. If you still have the issue and it is bothering you think about finding a garage with a real engine analyzer.

 

sound like u have a clogged fuel filter, or clogged pump screen, after u start it, it runs rough because it is lacking fuel, then after a few mins the fuel pump pressurrizes the fuel line, but then again it could be something else, but it deffinetly sounds fuel related, try doing this, whenever the symptom is occuring (mornings) turn the key to on (engine off) a few times and let the pump run untill it stops, do that a few times and wait a couple mins, if it starts right up, then its fuel related