I went to start my 2004 Ram today and it turned over a brief second then quit. I tried several more times to start it with no luck. Then, I held the gas peddle down all the way and cranked it and it started. Whew! What could cause this?

The previous night I had to move my truck so I could get in the attic. I back it up about 6 feet, turned it off for 10 minutes, then pulled it back in. Could I have flooded the engine by doing this?

I drove it to the gas station, Costco, and back home with no problems. But when I got out of the truck at home, I smelled a heavy exhaust smell in the garage. Maybe it was left-over from before I left the house....not sure.

Any ideas?

 

Where do you live? Maybe it was condensation within the chambers. Drastic temperature fluctuations can cause this. My wifes 2012 Subaru had a hard time starting one morning because it was 55*F all night long and then there was a sudden temp drop by 5am down to 20*F, so at 8am her car wouldn't start until I laid down the gas.
There was condensation on everything that mornig(turned to frost) and the engine just takes longer to cool down because of the mass.

 

Adding to what Dirtydog said, my previous truck, a rice burner had the same problem when it got below 20F. What was happening is that ice was forming and getting caught in the fuel filter. Looks like a Japanese problem though. The more fuel in the tank, the less condensation can form. During the winter, I try to keep the tank above half (it also doesn't hurt as much when I fill up. With up to a 12 cent price difference, I use cash.)

 

My 2005 was doing something similar several months ago. A mechanic said it sounded like the starter was stuck in the out position and the truck was cutting fuel to the engine due to the starter problem. He suggested putting the gas pedal to the floor and trying to start it. That worked. It would do this every once in a while, but it hasn't done it in a long time.