Does anyone have any ideas why when i replaced my cap and rotor, did the plenum, and new intake gaskets, my truck takes 10 times more cranking to fire up? Prior to all this, the truck started first rotation, EVERY time. Now it just cranks and cranks and cranks. sometimes I pump the pedal, but i doubt this is actually doing anything to help. When running, the truck runs better then before, but its a pain to start. Ideas?

 

I am just thinking out loud, but maybe low fuel pressure due to a weak fuel pump? I say this, because when there are vacuum leaks existant, it gets more air than it should initially and maybe that allowed it to crank up faster with less fuel, then after warming up the vacuum leak caused it to run poorly? I know the fuel is only the catalyst that burns the O2 in the air & thus the engine is an air pump after all. My 2001 started having weak fuel pump issues about 10k miles from new. Try this - don't crank the engine over when it is cold, instead turn the key in the on position and count to 5, then turn off & repeat that process 1 more time. If it starts right off really nice after that, that would say to me there is a weak fuel pump, maybe even just a clogged fuel filter. Outside of that, there is a chance that a vacuum line was miss routed or forgotten after the plenum repair, or a sensor has a bad connection. Also - I am unsure if the EGR in the 2nd gen are electronic or vacuum actuated, but the vacuum kind can get a deposit of carbon causing the rod in the middle not to move freely which can make it hard to start & sometimes even act like it is overheating when it is not (puttering & stalling). I hope some part of this helps you, but I will say it is late & I am just rambling out loud here. Good luck!

 

Actually when i did all this i replaced the EGR valve with a good one, and cleaned the pump out. now it works, and before it did not.

I will try the trick with the key, and check up on my vacuum lines. Thank you for the advice!

 

Well i turned the key on and left it a few seconds, repeated, then it fired right up. next i guess ill check the filter. If it looks okay I'll be lookin for a new pump.

 

Well, good to know you narrowed it down man. I hope the filter is all you need, I know it is no fun removing the bed especially if you don't have access to a gantry crane indoors. Btw - do you still have both rams in the pic? I have a deep love for gen 1's and I have owned 4 from the 80's myself.

 

Test the fuel pressure.

 

I still own 2 1972 dodge pickups. The w200 in the picture, and a Bahama yellow with white top d100 that is now a parts truck. Unfortunately they are back home in WA state, while i am in LA.