I have an 87 5000 that has a starting problem mostly after I have driven it and need to restart. I have checked the compression and its in the acceptable range, changed plugs, wires, rotor, cap and a new coil. Put in a new temp sender - the one in front with about 5 wires - new air filter, oil etc.... After I drive the car like to the store and then come out I usually have problems getting the thing going - starter turns fine - atleast until the battery runs down - but, If I leave it for a couple of hours it will restart with only a little problem. I dont smelll gas unless I flood it. I am at my wits end and the books, Haynes and Chilton dont give too much diagnostic info. I also switched out the computer with a junkyard one. Oh yea, it has trouble ideling until it warms up - but whenit does get going, it rides like a charm. Also an un relatied? issue, if the car sits a few days, maybe a week, the battery goes dead. It is a new battery and I had the charging system and starting system checked out and am told that its working - any ideas here too.</P>

 

When I owned an '86 5000s, I had a Haynes manual to start but soon decided to buy a set of Bentley manuals for the car (www,bentleypublishers.com). These manuals are essentially manufacturer's reprints and contain mucho diagnostic stuff. They can be a bear to read/find information about a problem, but once you locate what you need, they're great.

Do you actually have an ignition problem? Plug in and ground an inexpensive spark testor on the longest plug wire and look for a healthy spark. Are you getting a good gas supply? My rig needed yearly gas filter changes and started hard just about the time I started to hear the fuel pump whine. I never had injector problems as I occasionally ran cleaner in the gas, but they could be a problem, especially noting your engine doesn't run all that well even after it does start.

Finding the reason for a battery discharge just involves pulling off the negative cable, putting a test light between cable and neg. post (it'll light if a circuit is being completed), and pulling circuits off (fuses, relays) until the light goes out. Bentley for circuit diagrams. Happy hunting.
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A hot starting problem is usually an indication that you might have no residual pressure after shut down. The fuel in the injectors is boiling and vaporizing and you get what is sometimes technically called "vapor lock". I had a similar problem with my old Saab with CIS injection. Problem went away once I replaced the leaking accumulator.

A factory service manual and sjmautotechnik should help you diagnose the problem.