97 q45 cranks but won't start

[edfun]

Starting about a week or so ago, my car stopped starting right away. At first, if I put the key in the ignition and went to start it right away, I would only hear a click, after letting all the electronics turn on, the car would crank and fire right up. This started to happen more and more frequently.

Last night I go to start the car and the same thing happens, but this time the car won't start. It cranks at full speed, indicating the starter is still good, but the car won't start. I'm fairly new to q45's and from searching the only thing I found was someone having a dirty idle air control valve? I'm going to go check that in a bit.

I'll also be checking to see if the engine is getting fuel. Is there a quick and easy way to check spark? With my other cars I just take the unplug the wires and put a spare set of plugs in them and lay them on the valve cover while having a friend crank the car. I'd assume that I can do the same with the coils.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

[edfun]

So I go to try and diagnose the car today and she fires right up. So now I don't even know how to go about trying to troubleshoot the car...

[loystock]

Your problem is with the fuel system. The fuel delivery pressure may be low (due to weak pump/failing control unit, dirty/clogged fuel filter) or fuel leak down (bad Fuel Pressure Regulator or even leaking fuel injector). When you turn the Ignition Switch to ON, the fuel pump runs to fill up the fuel line which probably allows you to start the car. When was the last time you replaced the fuel filter (located in the rear wheel well, pax side)? If you are going to replace the fuel filter, make sure the fuel line is empty before disconnecting it (with engine running, pull fuel pump fuse and let the engine die, then crank a couple of times to ensure line is empty)

The best way to isolate the problem is to connect a Fuel Pressure gauge between the fuel filter and the fuel rail. A fuel pressure gauge can be bought or rented from car parts store. Let us know if you would like to fix the problem yourself or leave it to the mechanic.

[edfun]

I figured it was either fuel or spark related, but not due to the car starting up fine again, I haven't been able to diagnose it.

Your suggestion of a clogged fuel filter makes sense to why it wouldn't start. Although, it doesn't explain why sometimes when I put the key in and try to turn it on it doesn't do anything until all the electronics are on. But I'd like to swap the filter out, I'll be doing it myself