Hard starting, cranks fine
 

I need some help here. There's been a couple times now the truck has been really hard to start. She cranks up fine and will eventually start up, but every now and then it takes a couple tries. It's never done this before. I haven't gotten around yet to checking everything over yet, but does anyone have any suggestions? I'm pretty sure it can't be the temp around here, too warm.

Do you have to to turn the key to the on position and wait to try to start it? When I did the sohc swap in my old ranger, I had to wait for the pats system to kick on for it to start. Otherwise it would crank and crank with no luck.

Perhaps check fuel pressure? Maybe you have a leak somewhere causing you to lose pressure overnight/while sitting?

Unless something all of a sudden has changed, then no it has never needed the key on for a few seconds before starting.

Yeah perhaps that's something to chase. It just has me strangely stumped as to what it could be. I know there are probably thread upon thread about it but everything is different. Thanks for the help guys.

I had this happen on mine while thankfully under warranty. Was a bad fuel pump. They replaced it, never had a starting problem again. Gas guage not as accurate as factory though... :(

Chuck

I'm really hoping it's not a fuel pump. That was replaced recent enough that I think it should still be fine. It was a bear to replace the first time around.

Start by checking fuel pressure before and after cycling key - that will help determine whether or not the problem is fuel related. Then go from there, and report back! Just find someone with a guage! :D

Well there are guages at my votech shop, I just need to get the truck there.

*UPDATE* Today I put a new battery on the truck. Haven't checked fuel delivery, but time will tell if it was just a bad battery.

thats what it was with mine.

I have also had this problem with the fuel pump... There is some kind of back-flow valve attached to the fuel pump that prevents fuel from flowing backwards into the tank, and when the engine is shut off, the valve allows it to lose fuel pressure if it has gone bad.

Thats what happened to me. The pump itself wasn't bad, which is why it ran fine once it finally started. But the easiest thing is to just replace the whole fuel pump assembly. Or I guess you could just live with it.

Try priming the fuel pump a couple times before cranking it and see if it starts up easier. If so, thats your problem.

I'm pretty sure it was the battery. As rare as the problem was before, she seems to be behaving better now.