Chrysler Repair: 96 Grand Voyager Hard to start, grand voyager, wd 40

Question
QUESTION: My 1996 grand voyager suddenly is hard to start.  Takes 15 to 30 seconds of cranking to get it going.  Once it starts, it runs fine.  If I shut it off and try to immediately restart, it seems to start fine.  If I wait a bit, it goes back to hard starting.  Plugs and wires have been changed.

Thanks,

Mark

ANSWER: Two things to do:
Check the egr valve to make sure that its stem is moving freely and if not then spray some WD-40 on it where it enter the valve body and move the stem back and forth via the slot. Because you didn't mention the engine I can't be more specific about where to find the egr.
Then turn the ignition key:'on-off-on-off-on and leave on' doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the check engine light, which remains on 'on', to see it begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat the process to assure an accurate count. Tell me the counts in the order of appearance and we'll find out what the engine computer thinks is the problem.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick reply.

I have a 1996 Grand Voyager SE with a 3.3L engine.  Any idea
where the EGR valve is?  I'll check the engine code tonight.

Regards,

Mark

ANSWER: If you look at the rear exhaust manifold you will see a small pipe that branches off and goes toward the rear of the engine and along that pipe you will find the egr valve, under the air intake area, mounted horizontally. It has a round vacuum hose-operated top, the body of the valve is in the pipe, and a flange in between those two parts. Hidden in the flange area is a rod with a slot and that is the valve stem of which I wrote.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK. I've found the EGR valve, but its down low so I can't tell if its operating without removing it.  I will take a look at it later this week.  I did check the engine codes.  It is: 12343155.  I checked it twice.

Thanks,
Mark

Answer
The 12 code means the battery was disconnected in the past 50-100 key cycles. The 55 means end of code readout. The 31 means there is a problem with the solenoid circuit that admits the collected vapors into the engine after it warms up, and the 34 means there is a problem with the solenoid circuit for the cruise control. I don't believe that either of those codes would explain the hard starting. So check the egr.
Roland