I recently returned from a trip to Portland, and when I got to my car in long term parking at Austin airport, it would not start. It turned over again and again. I had noted some problems when starting in humid weather, so I decided to just go home (it was very late) and try it the next day. it was a nice, clear, dry day and sure enough it started right up.

(Trying to start it so many times apparently toasted my AAA battery. I called them, and they reported that all their local garages were out of their own proprietary batteries and they would not give me any other ones, although they said they would reimburse me for a new one. This made me think that they know that the quality of their batteries is pretty low. I bought a NAPA battery and it now turns over again fine. Just letting you know this in case their is the slightest chance of a connection.)

I went out today after installing a new battery, and the car turned over fine but it would not start again. It was a very rainy, humid day. For some reason, I got the idea to try and start it with the gas tank cover off. I'm not sure why--I've noticed that it has problems filling up sometimes with gas at really high pressure pumps, so I wondered if there was a relation. Sure enough, it started right away. It had a few hesistations, like something was clogged in the fuel lines. But then it ran fine. I'm wondering if it's a problem with the tank, the pre-pump, or what. I would think pre-pump, but I know from my old 740 wagon that a related problem with the pre-pump failure is vapor lock, and if anything, it runs better in hot weather--it is only in cool, damp weather that it has problems getting going. Any similar experiences?