2003 3.3L Won't Start Without Ether
 

My wife's 2003 Caravan (3.3L with ~ 250k miles) recently started acting up. A couple of days ago, she informed me that she had to try two or three times to get it to start. It would turn over but nothing until the third time or so. No codes and no service engine light. By the time I got around to it, a couple more days had elapsed and it was up to 4 or 5 attempts before it would start. First thing I checked was spark on each plug and all was well. Plugs are new by the way. This afternoon, I stopped by the parts store to grab a fuel filter (they were out) and when I came back out, it wouldn't start. Still pursuing the hunch that it's a fuel delivery issue, I went back in and grabbed a can of starter fluid. One or two blips of ether in the intake while someone hits the key and it starts instantly. Runs beautifully thereafter - no issues. So that kind of hoses my clogged fuel filter or faulty pump/regulator assembly hypothesis, doesn't it? If not, why then would it run fine after started? I've driven another 40 or 50 miles and it ran perfectly. What would cause a fuel starvation scenario on start?

Thanks.

You may have a fuel pump starting to go out on you. Hook up a pressure gauge and ck your fuel pressure. Sure be 49 psi to 54. It sure shoot up to that pressure you turn the key on.