This morning, I start the car, and then drop my daughter off at school. I'm inside for less than 5 minutes. Upon returning, it won't start...the starter cranks, but that's it. I try a few more times, then wait a few minutes, try again, and after sitting for less than 5 minutes, it starts. And the car absolutely stinks, real foul and nasty exhaust stink. I get to work and all is fine. I go out to grab a lunch, stop at a market for 5 minutes and the same thing happens. This has happened every now and again in the past, but not twice in a day. I stop at my mechanic on the way home and he pulls one spark plug and puts a spark tester on it. Of course, the car starts. It still smells stinky, but I can't repeat the problem for him. He thinks its either the distributor or if not that, a fuel issue. So, he gives me the spark tester and I try when I get home, but of course, it starts right up. So, the problem happened when the car was cool in the morning (I live in PA), and then relatively warm after at lunch (It was about 80 degrees outside).
Anybody ever see an issue like this? I used to have an old Audi that did the same thing, but that car had a known vapor-lock issue with the injection system. I love the car, but it's starting to scare me with this kind of stuff.

 

main fuel relay. This is one of the more common issues.

 

Thanks judonuh. Is that the same as the main relay that sits under the dash above the cruise control box?

 

yes it is. i would rec replacing it.