Haven't had many problems with the rust bucket, but then I don't drive it daily when there is no snow on the ground....now it's a daily driver.

Lately (starting a few months back) the truck has needed two cranking sessions to start. Used to start on about the 3rd turn over. Now I give it 4, stop and two more and it starts right up. If it's been running a bit it will backfire or 'feel' like the timing is off and then start and run just fine.

Next issue. On these -1 deg mornings, it will start like above, let it warm up and it will struggle and then die after the coolant warms up to around 140/150. As soon as I get above that point it runs fine. If I've started driving before this warm up range it will die when I stop.

Any thoughts? Choke?

Thanks.

 

There is no choke.

Check fuel pressure first. See what that looks like. Sounds like the drain-back valve has failed..... You can replace just the regulator portion of the assembly, but, it is almost as much as replacing the whole thing...... which is actually a better idea.

I would also be tempted to yank the throttle body, and clean it thoroughly. Not sure if it is a contributor to your problem... but, it sure wouldn't hurt.

Have you fixed your plenum yet? Vacuum leak would also give you some odd symptoms.

 

Fixing the Plenum......is on my list.

Tromping through the woods, fields and streams and how renovations get in the way of auto-wanna's .

Thanks, I'll look into the drain back next couple of days.

Might explain why it starts right up once in a while, after a few hours of sitting. Come out to go to lunch one day and starts the first crank...next 5 days it won't.

 

Mr. HeyYou....would that also account for a drop in rpm when the clutch is depressed? Once things get warmed up, coming up to a stop and using the clutch will let the rpms 'bounce' below 600 it will stall.