Help needed. Have an '03 that's giving me some trouble starting. When I try and start the S it simply cranks and cranks unless I have the accelerator to the floor then it barely starts.... HOWEVER, once it gets started it runs like a champ. No CEL. Haven't had the time to really dive into it, will this weekend but hopefully someone can steer me in the right direction.

 

Sounds like your starter is going bad. Search "bad starter symptoms"

 

it turns just fine, and will all day until I push the accelerator then it slowly fires up and gets going.

 

Sounds like you have a fuel injector problem, because flooring the gas when starting the car makes the computer go into clear flood mode, it does this when leaking injectors saturate the combustion chamber. The car goes super lean on start up.

 

true.

 

I will have to look into this...

I used to hear the fuel pump prime overtime I'd put the key in the ignition and turn it. I no longer hear it at all, could this be a symptom?

 

Fuel injectors seem to be working fine...

 

Pull the little hose from the pressure regulator see if it's wet or smells of fuel.

 

yes. check to see if your fuel pump in getting and using power

 

So with the work schedule and pure exhaustion I haven't been able to really dive into it yet. I did check the injectors, seem to be working as well I can see. I cleaned the IACV, it was full of build up. No Dice.

Stood outside my car finally when someone else started it. As soon as they turned the key, instead of the fuel pump priming, I hear what I can only describe as a "Under Water Mario World water drop" noise instead.. think it may be a fuel pump issue... also discovered the gas pedal does not need to be pressed for it to start.