Long start when cold

[wantingasy]

My TY has been taking a while for the first start up of the day. I'll crank it for a good amount of time until it will finally fire and sometimes it like stumbles when it starts. I noticed this a while ago and thought it could be because I needed a tune-up so I did a tune up about a week ago. I know my alternator and starter are going bad, could that be the cause? While cranking, the starter is good though I'll just get the occasional "click, click, vroom"...lol And I think my alternator is going bad because I'm at like 12.6/7 at idle and like 12.2/3 in drive....

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Long start when cold

Possibly the fuel pump going out?

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: Long start when cold

well get you altenator/battery figured out because you should be charging at least 13.6v, if you suspect fuel pump put a walbro in it, but i would change out the fuel filter first though, they are notoriuos for going bad quick.

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Long start when cold

Alright, thanks!

 

[Don W.]

Re: Long start when cold

Well my :2cents: is that it's the fuel pump relay. Find a way to check fuel pressure first thing in the am. You should have fuel pressure immediately with key on. (FP runs for 2 secs with key on.) A delayed start means (besides the suggestions already made) that the fuel pump is waiting to it's standby signal from the oil pump switch.

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Long start when cold

I have a FP gauge that I got from RPM that goes right onto the fuel rail, but I heard that it could break the fuel rail, so I haven't put it on yet. Can I put it on, check the FP, then take it off and put the valve back on? When I turn the key to the on position, I can hear the fuel pump run though.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Long start when cold

I have a FP gauge that I got from RPM that goes right onto the fuel rail, but I heard that it could break the fuel rail, so I haven't put it on yet. Can I put it on, check the FP, then take it off and put the valve back on? When I turn the key to the on position, I can hear the fuel pump run though.

Definitely worth checking IMO. Just 'cuz it runs doesn't necessarily mean there's pressure.

 

[dhorsman2000]

Re: Long start when cold

First thing to do is check your fuel pressure regulator. Sounds to me like it is leaking. Pull the vacuum line off of it and look for fuel coming out of it, or the v line. If it is wet it is bad and needs to be replaced. If it is dry the next thing I would check is fuel pressure after sitting for about 5 minutes. Start truck and note where FP is, then shut truck off and check again in 5 min. it should be holding steady to what it was when it was running (or pretty close) if it is dropping you have a bad fuel pump check valve and it is allowing the gas to drain from your line back into the tank, causing your extended crank.

Good luck

 

[SY2932]

Re: Long start when cold

Well my :2cents: is that it's the fuel pump relay. Find a way to check fuel pressure first thing in the am. You should have fuel pressure immediately with key on. (FP runs for 2 secs with key on.) A delayed start means (besides the suggestions already made) that the fuel pump is waiting to it's standby signal from the oil pump switch.

Correct, the fuel pump relay should be the first thing you should check if you are experiencing delayed starts. Of course if your starting and charging isn't up to par, that isn't doing you any favors either... If the fuel pump relay is inoperative, repeated starts will build up sufficient oil pressure to allow the truck to start. If you still have AC on your truck, you can test it without even having to make a trip the parts store. The AC relay is the one closest to the power brake booster. The relay right next to it is the fuel pump relay. These relays are interchangeable so you can swap them out to see if that fixes your problem. You can see the fuel pump relay on the left of this pic:

"SPA Design senders, boost on left & fuel pressure on right in DIY"

With regards to the fuel pressure gauge, you definatelty DON'T want to install it directly to the fuel rail. That is a fire waiting to happen. There was a discussion about this not too long ago. I opted for a fuel pressure relocation kit for my truck. Been on there since 2001 with no problems. You can see the line going to the bottom of my sender on the firewall above. HTH's

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Long start when cold

First thing to do is check your fuel pressure regulator. Sounds to me like it is leaking. Pull the vacuum line off of it and look for fuel coming out of it, or the v line. If it is wet it is bad and needs to be replaced. If it is dry the next thing I would check is fuel pressure after sitting for about 5 minutes. Start truck and note where FP is, then shut truck off and check again in 5 min. it should be holding steady to what it was when it was running (or pretty close) if it is dropping you have a bad fuel pump check valve and it is allowing the gas to drain from your line back into the tank, causing your extended crank.

Good luck

Thanks, will pull the vacuum line tomorrow and see if there's fuel in there. :tup:

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Long start when cold

Correct, the fuel pump relay should be the first thing you should check if you are experiencing delayed starts. Of course if your starting and charging isn't up to par, that isn't doing you any favors either... If the fuel pump relay is inoperative, repeated starts will build up sufficient oil pressure to allow the truck to start. If you still have AC on your truck, you can test it out with even having to make a trip the parts store. The AC relay is the one closest to the power brake booster. The relay right next to it is the fuel pump relay. These relays are interchangeable so you can swap them out to see if that fixes your problem. You can see the fuel pump relay on the left of this pic:

"SPA Design senders, boost on left & fuel pressure on right in DIY"

With regards to the fuel pressure gauge, you definatelty DON'T want to install it directly to the fuel rail. That is a fire waiting to happen. There was a discussion about this not too long ago. I opted for a fuel pressure relocation kit for my truck. Been on there since 2001 with no problems. You can see the line going to the bottom of my sender on the firewall above. HTH's

Thanks. How will switching those relays help me check to see if the fuel pump is going out? I guess I'm not getting the concept. I read over that post about the FP gauge a while ago and that's why I haven't put it on yet. Is it alright to put it on just to check the FP then take it off and put the cap back on? I plan on getting a fuel pressure gauge for an A-pillar within the next couple of months, so I'm not concerned about making this one permanent.

 

[kentuc]

Re: Long start when cold

ECM Temp sensor near the T-stat housing. This will give you a cold start problem.

 

[SY2932]

Re: Long start when cold

Thanks. How will switching those relays help me check to see if the fuel pump is going out? I guess I'm not getting the concept. I read over that post about the FP gauge a while ago and that's why I haven't put it on yet. Is it alright to put it on just to check the FP then take it off and put the cap back on? I plan on getting a fuel pressure gauge for an A-pillar within the next couple of months, so I'm not concerned about making this one permanent.

Ok Cliff Note version: The fuel pump *may* be fine, a bad relay will cause the problem you are having. Swap AC relay with fuel pump relay and see if problem goes away.

You could attach the fuel gauge temporarily see what the pressure is with no problems. Depending on what type of gauge it is, you may want to go out and just buy a dedicated fuel pressure test gauge since thay aren't that expensive.

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Long start when cold

Ok Cliff Note version: The fuel pump *may* be fine, a bad relay will cause the problem you are having. Swap AC relay with fuel pump relay and see if problem goes away.

You could attach the fuel gauge temporarily see what the pressure is with no problems. Depending on what type of gauge it is, you may want to go out and just buy a dedicated fuel pressure test gauge since thay aren't that expensive.

OHHHHHHHH......I SEEEEEEE........haha....It's the relay I'm checking, not the fuel pump, gotcha. Hmmm...I'll have to do this tomorrow morning before I start it. I just unscrew that top bolt and switch them? Sorry, I've never messed with them before and want to be prepared. Thank you

 

[SY2932]

Re: Long start when cold

OHHHHHHHH......I SEEEEEEE........haha....It's the relay I'm checking, not the fuel pump, gotcha. Hmmm...I'll have to do this tomorrow morning before I start it. I just unscrew that top bolt and switch them? Sorry, I've never messed with them before and want to be prepared. Thank you

Heh, that's some light bulb. I can see it all the way from Ohio... You *could* remove the screws that hold the bracket on and pull the relay(s) off if you want. But I would just disconnect the plugs on the bottom of the relays and swap them since the wires are long enough but that's just me . You don't even have to worry about reconnecting the AC one since it's not the problem.

 

[dhorsman2000]

Re: Long start when cold

When I turn the key to the on position, I can hear the fuel pump run though.

If you can hear the fuel pump running its not your relay, or your pump, unless its intermitant. You can install the FP gauge temporarily to check pressure, so I would start with my previous reply, its quick and simple, and will tell you if you have pressure or not.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Long start when cold

If you can hear the fuel pump running its not your relay, or your pump, unless its intermitant. You can install the FP gauge temporarily to check pressure, so I would start with my previous reply, its quick and simple, and will tell you if you have pressure or not.

If he's got full time IC pump going he's gonna hear that first. (At least that's the way it is on my truck.)

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Long start when cold

I have the full time IC pump, but I can't hear that until I get out of the truck and walk up to the front. I hear the fuel pump come on for about 4-5 seconds then shut off, then I start the truck.

 

[dhorsman2000]

Re: Long start when cold

did you pull your vacuum line yet?? Was it dry?? How about fuel press. is it holding after you shut your truck off?

 

[wantingasy]

Re: Long start when cold

I pulled the vacuum line and everything was nice and dry in there. So I guess the next step is to hook up the FP gauge and see what that's at and see if it holds pressure. I'm thinking it could just be the battery/alternator going bad combo. I'll be replacing both of them and a new walbro fuel pump in less then a month. So hopefully I'll be fine til then.