1997 Ranger 3.0 Starting Issues
 

I have a 97 Ranger with a 3.0 and 166K on the engine that is having intermittent cold start issues. The truck will crank strong but takes too long to finally kick. If I turn the key on and engage the fuel pump 3 or 4 times it will start without an issue. I have changed the fuel pressure regulator and it seemed good for a few days and then the starting issue came back. I pulled the truck bed in preparation to replace the fuel pump and noticed a vacuum line was off from the vacuum valve that sits next to the pump on the fuel tank. I fired up the truck and it ran fine for again a few days before the starting issue resurfaced. I am planning to swap the fuel pump this week-end but fear that it will be fine for a few days and then have starting issue again. I have checked the fuel pressure and it does take engaging the pump multiple times to build up 40 pounds of pressure. Any thoughts on if this sounds like the fuel pump? Could it be a cam shaft sensor? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Sounds exactly like a lazy pump to me