2001 3.5-hard start-fuel pump question:

[UnitedWeCanFixAll]

My Pathfinder cranks great, but lately, it never starts right up like it always has in the past. It will start eventually. Sometimes after 2 or 3 tries. Sometimes after 30 or 40 tries. Once it starts, it runs just fine. I'll be checking the fuel pump relay and the fuel pump tomorrow, but I have a valid question. (I also have another question that I wouldn't ask if I wasn't already here.) THE VALID QUESTION: DESPITE THE DIFFICULTY STARTING, WOULD THE VEHICLE PERFORM NORMALLY IF THE FUEL PUMP ISN'T WORKING?

Just throwing this out there since I'm already here. I see the possibility of this circumstance being recognized as indicative of a specific failure. THIS COULD BE COINCIDENCE, BUT TWICE I'VE PARKED ON A STEEP HILL WITH THE FRONT OF VEHICLE POINTED UPHILL. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE STARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. DOES THIS RING ANY BELLS FOR ANYONE?

THANKS!

[VStar650CL]

It's possible, sometimes pumps will spin up slowly even though they produce normal pressure after they get spinning. However, that said, it isn't a common failure mode. Long cranks on VQ's are most often caused by weak cam or crank sensors.