I am wondering why my jeep is starting hard and what is an easy fix?

There is a anti -drain back valve on the wranglers that prevents the fuel from draining back out of the fuel rail after shutting off the engine and letting it sit. It takes a little time for the fuel to totally drain out, which is why the Jeep starts easily after you shut it off for only a few minutes.

My money is on the drain back valve - trust me, you wouldn't be the first.

My money is also in the fuel pump and it's check valve. If you want to PROVE it..Go to Auto Zone and borrow the fuel pressure gauge and connect to the scrader valve on the fuel rail..ENGINE OFF!!!

With someone else in the seat..IN NUETRAL, crank it from a cold condition. Watch the gauge, if it takes a while for the pressure to rise and the engine fires when it comes up you do have a check valve not holding pressure and in your year, it is in the fuel pump in the tank. Not really that hard to do your self, but do this test first. I am not much on throwing money at problems unless I am sure. Note, KEY OFF engine cool before removing the pressure gauge as you probably will spill some fuel and we do not want a fire.

Good Luck

You asked for an easy fix..less than taking the fuel tank off, I presume?? Ok,,on mine I found a gasoline compatable one way check valve with a VERY light check ball or poppet spring. Too strong and it will reduce fuel pressure and it does not take much. Install this into the fuel lines back near the fuel filter,,free flow toward the pump. This will check off the return flow. Now this will help..but long term the pump is giving you signs of impending failure.

I had the same problem. I have a 2000 jeep wrangler and I do some 4x4 on the weekend. I bent the skid plate on the back of the jeep. I also bent the fuel tank which is on top of that and the fuel pump is right on top of the fuel tank. It had a hard time starting, I had to leave the key on for a few seconds so the pump could pump gas to the motor before I cranked it over. One day I bent the tank so bad it quit working. I went to a jeep junk yard and bought a used skid plate, gas tank, and fuel pump all together and it cost me $300. It was pretty easy to put on, just a couple of bolts,a couple hoses a and the connection for the wiring. It might be just your fuel pump. Check to see if your back skid plate is dented. Your jeep shouldn't have a fuel filter.

I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the same motor and it's doing the same thing yours is..

The problem is that the fuel pump is not keeping pressure in the fuel line when it's not running..

There's not really an easy fix, it requires removing the gas tank and putting a new pump in. $300 to $800 to get it done.. But my jeep has been that way for 2 years now and it still runs great.. Just have to turn the key twice like you to get it started..

Sounds like your fuel pump is not keeping a prime, and starting the car fills the fuel line, this can be a bad fuel line, or a clogged or collapsed filter in the tank, I would get a floor jack, loosen the two stap bolts and drop the tank down a couple feet and start looking at everything up to the engine until I found it, the reason I said start at the tank, this is normally where the problem is.

I have had the same problem. Hard to start cold or hot. I have had a 2 new fuel pumps (thinking the first was bad), new fuel filter, plugs, and some ignition sensor. Still same problem. I've read about ignition coils (>?) perhaps being the culprit. Is there a way to test this without costing an arm and a leg>>>>????

You might have a clog in your fuel injector or a dirty fuel pump or filter ,could be the gas a s well.

If you live near and Advanced Auto or Auto Zone they have a machine they can hook up to your car that can tell you what the problem is and they do this for free. Hope that helps a little.

from what you have said about it ,all it might need is a good tune up ,new plugs and everything including new gas and air filter ,that's usually what a good repair shop will suggest anyway,because all of those parts will make one start real slow,if the get worn down,you can do most of this your self,or have it done,one good thing about having it done ,is while their doing it,they can also check other things out on it as the tune it up,so it might be a good idea to have this done,because they have all the proper tools to work with and diagnose it with,id try that ,it usually fixes them when their running like that one is,good luck on it.

When is the last time that you had your air/fuel filters replaced. If that is not the problem you might want to check your fuel injectors. Also possible a line might be clogged.

Have them change the fuel filter to start