I have a 2003 dodge dakota with the 4.7 V8. It had been sitting for 4 years when I bought it Friday and since then I have put a new alternator, AC compressor, belt, belt tensioner and battery. Put new gas in it I have been driving it everyday so issues.

only problem is every time I go to start it it cranks 4-6 seconds. It don’t miss, sputter or anything when it starts. Runs like a new truck. Put a check valve in the fuel line thinking it might’ve been losing pressure but no difference.

any info would help, thanks.

 

What happens if you turn the key to run position (last pos before crank), wait a few seconds, then crank? Did you change the plugs?

Fuel pressure testers can be rented for free upon return. I'm still on original fuel pump at 343K mi and the first crank of the day takes a few seconds...rest of day, it starts immediately. I was having similar issues to you years back and it turned out to be the fuel pump relay, so try swapping that out with another relay in the under-hood fuse box.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ng-320k-4.html

 

These trucks its extremely common for the check valve on the fuel pump to fail causing your exact symptoms. The pumps themselves are really reliable but that check valve will fail early on every one. Depending on where you put the check valve it still will lose prime and not fix the issue. You need the check valve to be as close to the pump as possible. I ran a 4.7 with that issue for 280k and it didn't ever lead to additional issues so if I were you I would just leave it as is since the proper fix is to replace the pump and the aftermarket ones are pretty bad compared to the originals.