I have a 2001 Dakota with the 4.7 auto. It will start fine if the weather is cold, but if it is a say 70F or if the truck has run and then has sat for a while it will turn over but it will take 10+ seconds to kick over. When it starts it shoots out sooty exhaust. No codes are coming up on the odb2. Any ideas? Also my neighbor has a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the same motor, and similar starting problems.

 

What grade gas do you run in it and do you live where the winters get pretty cold?

 

this is quite the opposite from what i've experienced...mine does the screeching thing when i start it up in the very cold weather (<20 degrees) and is fine when it's, well, warmer than that. the warmer it gets the easier it starts.

 

I run midgrade (87), here in the hills west of Denver. Sparkplugs at 85,000, so 20,000 miles on the plugs. I am guessing that the black smoke indicates the FI is working.

 

So you are in my neck of the woods. I'm here in Denver as well. Try running some regular through it and go to a different gas station. You have to remember that it's harder for higher octane to burn and the 4.7l in this altituderuns perfect on 85 octane. All of the stations are still running winter blend here and that fuel vaporizes easier to compensate for the cold,so the heat that we've been having might be messing with the gas. Change your fuel around and let us know what happens.

 

Yep, 105,9xx. I just ran the scanner, and still nothing. Had the same problem while I was messing with it, and still zilch. It will start eventually, sometimes 3 * 10 sec cranking, but it seems to be getting worse. Other than this problem it runs great.

 

Well, my next guess would be a CMP sensorif it isn't the fuel but you aren't throwing a light. Either way I would still check that.

 

a couple of thing I would check in addition to better gas:
Even though you changed your plugs, pull them and check color for mixture burn and gap, I have had a plug go bad after just 5k and I chased everthing else thinking it couldn't be a plug.
Clean your throttle body, my 94had built up a little gum in the small ports and it would actually stallat idle when warm. Worked great after that.I just used gumout spray. (I got the tip form a Mopar mechanic)
Last I would have the TPS(throttle position sensor) checked. These have a tendancy to ware at the idle and cruising positions and can cause idle problems. (this happened to my 01' with 75k on it)

One question, has your milage gone down? a leaking injector might make for a rich start aslo.