Well good, glad you were able to get to the bottom of your problem and get your brick rollin. Yeah, I thought about the check valve, and haven't completely ruled it out yet, but have chosen not to focus too hard on that at the moment. Reason? Check valve simple stops all the fuel from draining down the lines so your injectors will have a ready source of fuel when you attempt to start the car.

A sure sign of a faulty check valve, as you well know, is the engine turning and turning before it actually starts. It will finally start once the pump has gotten the fuel to the injectors. But see, mine will immediately start when I turn the key and will sometimes spit and sputter around 400 rpms before either 1. kicking up to normal idle speed or 2. stalling out and leaving me scratching me head (usually accompanied by a whispered expletive).

Any other symptoms? I've noticed that the engine will start without any problems when the engine is cold (this morning for instance). Everytime that I have experienced this problem is after the engine has been brought to operating temperature. This problem presented itself 3 days ago after filling my tank at a Mobil station where I have gotten bad fuel from in the past. Still have the gas in my tank, about 3/4, and have added to it some water remover and fuel injector cleaner. The spitting and sputtering at highway speeds has disappeared but not the ignition issue. Prior to this my engine has run like a top with no obvious signs (buzzing of fuel pump, lengthly turning of engine, etc.) of any fuel related issues. So there you have it. Thoughts?

Nathaniel: VCOA