Hard Starting Issues.

[Goosevf_1]

Hi all.
Ive mentioned this issue in another thread, but instead of pushing a thread through 5 pages, I figured Id post a new topic and hopefully someone outside of the other thread may be able to help.

 

After I got my starter in I noticed it was a little hesitant to start. Coughs and catches a bit before it'll idle properly. Once its running its quite smooth and I cant really see an issue. Lately its been getting worse, now it will not start or barerly start without having a little bit of throttle open. Even then its not terribly happy.

 

Checked the wires. they look new. Checked the cap and rotor and nothing stood out as problematic. I checked the plugs. Burning clean but the gap is a little bit to wide compared to limits spec'd in the FSM. Its at about .37-.38 vs FSM which states .31-.35

 

The fuel pump is engaging and priming it multiple times has no effect. I changed the fuel filter to again, no effect.

 

A couple theories that I've read about but not 100% on... weak fuel pump (multiple primes should fix that.) Fuel line check valve (again, multiple primes should eliminate that.) Dirty injectors? iacv? timing? Low compression?

 

Also the spec'd plug is a bkr6ey. I have bkr6egp's. I feel like the spark output should be equivelant if not better in mine being platinum but I noticed the ey's have a very thick nickle electrode, What plug is everyone here running? Should I run a hotter plug having lower compression with age and mileage? shes got 278xxxkms on her.

 

Here is plug out of cyl#1

 

 

Ill post a video of it starting with and without the accelerator slightly depressed when Im home with wifi, maybe that'll help diagnose. Thanks in advance.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Goosevf_1

[djratlif]

Mine just started doing this as well, hard start and rough idle for 30 seconds or so. After that it runs like a top. I swapped my fuel filter and tested the pressure while I was there and it still does it. I am looking for a small leak that may be letting the truck lose its prime and take a minute to start.

[Goosevf_1]

If the check were to be stuck, how many cycles would it need to achieve proper priming pressure. If that were stuck open, theoretically the fuel could just push all the way back to the pump, am I wrong?

[Precise1]

Well, without seeing the other thread, I don't know if or what I already suggested, or if it was tried, so I'm not going to guess. It is best to keep things in one thread for continuity and other people's future searches.

 

As for the plugs, I run the platinum in both a 1995 and 1999 without issue, and I have seen the stock plugs with a 2.5mm gap (not a typo) in a 1996 and it still started/ran fine.

If anything, that plug looks like you are running a bit rich or have some oil blowby...

 

B

 

 

[Goosevf_1]

Everything that's been checked or attempted is listed above

[Goosevf_1]

Well, I got all motivated on sunday and decided to pull the intake manifold to check fuel injectors, clean off the engine to be able to check the rest of the plugs and look at the IACV. In my adventures, I noticed a couple of things that I thought I would share and hopefully provide some insight.

 

1. the IACV was relatively clean. It looked dusty, as if it were a fine carbon soot in the orifices, but it did not look gummed up or clogged. I will clean it all out and re-install. I do not believe this is my issue.

 

2. When releasing fuel pressure, I started it (hesistant and hard as usual) then pulled the fuel pump fuse. The truck immediately lost RPM's and died within 3-5 seconds. I thought it should take longer but I could be mistaken. When I changed the filter previously, I pulled the fuse before attempting to start. With the fuse out it would not even think about starting and there was 0 pressure when I took the filter out. Im beginning to wonder if the fuel pump is having troubles keeping up. I have not had enough chance on the road to see if it is loosing power on hills or heavy acceleration. A pressure check is in order but we will see. I did check pressure very vaguely through the fsm procedure, (pinch the line) and it built pressure instantaneously when key turned to on. 3 days on non running later, it felt as if it were back to zero.

 

3. The pcv vaccum hose, once removed from manifold side looks like this.

 

I dont know if it should be this gummed up. I will be cleaning the manifold thouroughly before re-installation but does anyone believe this could be the culprit?

 

Any help is always appreciated. Cheers Gents

 

 

[SpecialWarr]

The PCV is easy to check: remove it from the intake and give it a shake, rattles are good... no rattles= no good. You might want to check the rest of the hoses and see if they are tight on their fittings. I found that this helped a lot, but I suspect that the MAF is a bit dirty, with maybe a spotty ground wire. If it isn't that the only other thing I can think of off of the top of my head is a small crack in the intake accordion boot between the MAF and the throttle body.... but I'm listing this stuff as it pops up in my brain... but I'm not a mechanic; I just spin wrenches.