Trouble starting for past two weeks. How do I describe? I turn the key and it sounds like it is going to start but doesn't, it cranks for a few seconds then it lets out a huge sigh and I turn the key off and try again. (the sound is kind of like the sound of someone getting the wind knocked out of them, a big puff sound)
after a few of those it finally fires up. car got stuck today, wouldn't start and after 7-8 tries I put my foot on the brake pedal and tapped the gas with my other foot and it started. What is going on? Any clues welcome on this one. My wife wants me to sell, but I love my brick.

Sounds familiar ... start by making sure your battery is in good condition and fully charged. If it is, then suspect the starter. Problem went away for me with a new starter, but I couldn't guarantee it wasn't just because I cleaned the connections when reassembling ;-)

Unfortunately, the connections are virtually inacessible under the intake :-(

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'96 850T and '83 244 DL both at about 200K, '97 850T5; gone but not forgotten '81 245 and '64 Amazon

Because it started with your foot on the gas and brake rules out a number of possibilities.

You could have a dirty throttle body, a dirty idle control motor (it should hum when you put the key in position II), a leaking vacuum line for the fuel pressure regulator.

Your best indicator will be the ccondition of the spark plugs. Pull off the cover, try to start the engine with no gas/brake, and inspect a couple of plugs. If they are wet with gasoline, then there is not enough air going through the throttle.

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

Sorry for the late reply. I will check out your recommendations in the next few days, and let you know. At least it gives me more to go on to solve this problem
Thanks.

Does it make any diffference if the engines hot or cold? Could be your fuel pump relay?

yes it seems to start (not well) but better when the car has had a little time to cool. Is that significant and what should I try to pinpoint or eliminate that as a possibility?