Hey guys, I have an 88 w100 that is having a little trouble starting lately. When started the first time of the day, it will fire up and run for a second and shut off. Then when it's cranked again it'll usually flood unless it's given gas just right. Basically when it's started you have to hit the gas right away at first to keep it from shutting off. This has started since it's gotten cold...is this typical? By the way it's a 318 and had a new starter, plugs, wires and hall effect pick up replaced about a year ago. New cap put on the other day

 

Oh and also, should I be hearing like, a whirring type sound coming from the distributor? Never noticed it before when replacing a cap, but then again I've always put the air filter and stuff back together before starting it. Started it with the air filter etc. still off and heard it but couldn't hear it when I put it back on.

 

that sound you hear is probably just the air being sucked into the throttle body. you can usually here it when there is nothing restricting the air flow into the engine.

 

Cool thanks, any ideas with the starting issue? I have no idea if it's typical for this truck or not. Just worried since when we got all those snow storms on the east coast it died like 3 times on us in the cold weather...of course the distributor cap ended up being totally beat so no problems with that so far but we replaced it again (about a year from last time) to be sure of no problems with that. The previous owner said he had to replace cap and rotor about once a year

--ps thanks again for the help from my old posts

 

I have a 1989 W-150 with the 318 and a Auto trans. My truck does the same thing. When it is first started in the morning,on a cold morning,the truck starts up runs for a second and will cut off.When you go to restart you have to give it a little gas and it will start up,run just a little rough and does just fine the rest of the day. I have replaced the O2 sensor and also replaced the Fuel Filter,but nothing has changed it. I suppose that this is normal for these trucks.I have only 58000 miles on mine and I just replaced the Spark Plugs and that did not even change anything. So I suppose as long as it runs leave it alone.

 

My 89 has over 134,000 on it and has never done that so it is not normal. It is a matter of doing the work to find the problem or deciding to put up with the problem. Your choice.

 

I have pulled the codes out of the system and the only thing was a code12 and then a code 52 which is clear.After the first startup in the morning it is fine,just barley turn the switch and the truck starts right up.Like I have said I have replaced the fuel filter and I also replaced the O2 sensor.

 

@ setpoints, How does it run otherwise? Does it idle OK when it warms up? How long before it idles on its own without you feathering the gas?

 

In my opinion it idles kinda rough, but I don't really have anything to go by since I've only ever driven this one (about 95k on the odometer). when idling it's got quite a loud vibration but the second you push on the gas it immediately goes away and actually it's pretty quiet and smooth while driving. I noticed no unusual sounds while outside the truck or with the hood up, it's only loud and shaky sounding when your in the cab

 

I would check the timing and get an accurate reading on the idle RPM. You need specific information for trouble shooting. If you have a vacuum gauge it might provide some good info.