occasional start-up 'hiccup'

[muttmobile]

....2001 2wd LE w/87k....

 

hope the length isn't too off-putting, just trying to be thorough.

 

i'm looking for ideas, and/or symptoms to start looking for. since i bought the truck this has happened only twice:

 

during start-up there's a bit of a 'hiccup,' that's the best word for it that i can think of, while she's in the process of starting (ie, as i'm turning the key). the first time was after driving 3-6 miles and then sitting for approx 2 hours. she began to turn over and then stuttered and stopped (died). but on the next try, 1-2 seconds after, she started up.

 

the second time was after driving ~5 miles and sitting ~30 minutes. she started to turn over, hesitated, (seemed to be a clunk/thud coming from somewhere below me) and then resumed and started-up.

 

every other time i've started her (dozens of times) she's started fine, but i'm worried this might get worse (and this must be a symptom of something that needs a'fixin').

 

after looking over a dozen other posts i'm thinking this might be a fuel pressure regulator issue. does that sound feasible? any other suggestions?

 

my biggest fear when buying a high-mileage used car is that the transmission is going to fall out on me (my last car was a manual) - could the start-up-thud somehow be related to the transmission?

 

all comments and suggestions are welcome,

alex

[CoastGuardZ]

Alex-

 

I share a problem similar to yours. 3 days ago I drove mine to work and parked it, at the time it was about 8* F. About an hour later I went to start it and it would just turn over and not fire up. I noticed that I did not hear the fuel pump. After a plethora of foul language I pulled and checked all the fuses associated with the Fuel and Ignition System and gave all the associated relays a light tap. She then fired up just fine. Have had any problems since after a couple dozen starts or so, but I fear it happening again and not starting at all. I'll be following this thread.

 

Any input out there?

 

-Nate

[muttmobile]

Hey Nate, I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone (though I'm sure you're not). What exactly does the fuel pump sound like?

 

I'm not sure if we have the same problem though, because both times this happened with my truck it didn't simply turn-over (but not start) normally while cranking. It began to turn-over then stuttered or hiccuped and either resumed turning over and starting, or just stopped.

 

Either way, I'll let you know if I figure something out.

 

Alex

[CoastGuardZ]

Alex,

If you turn the key just to ON, you should hear the pump. It'll be easier to hear with the drivers door still open. The sound you hear is just the pump priming and only last a second or two. When mine acted up I heard nothing... just a couple of relays clicking into their positions.

 

Our problems do sound a bit different and may not be related at all, but one can only hope. I'm hoping mine was just a fluke and never comes back ... on the other hand if it does happen again, I'll be forced to look into it.

 

Don't know if you've checked yet, but how do your battery cables look? Both ends of each cable. You know, at the battery terminals, the starter, the alternator... you never know it could be very simple.

 

Keep us updated.

[muttmobile]

I'll have to listen for the pump next time. The battery cables look fine on the battery itself, but I hadn't thought to check the other connections, that's a good idea.

[88pathoffroad]

I have yet to see a problem with any year Pathy that stems from the fuel pressure regulator alone. Usually it's a sensor or missing/damaged vaccuum hose, etc. Keep it simple and look for the easy fix first. Check your error codes.