Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) hard to start when hot

[AMongold]

my truck has always started with just a bump of the key. in the last month or so when the truck is up to operating temp. it cranks four or five times before it starts. first thing in the morning truck starts fine with just a bump of the key, but then if i drive into town,shut the truck off to go in somewhere and come back five to ten minutes later the truck will crank a good bit before it starts. anyone have any ideas what could be the problem?

 

[AMongold]

well i guess i made a post to soon. i just did a search and found some info on my problem. it is kind of what i was afraid of from the beginning,sounds like it is the vp. but on the bright side i guess i get to try one of the hot rod pumps!

 

[Lockard]

mine's doing the same thing

Mine has been doing the same thing for over 2 months now. I bought a VP-44 and it's awaiting install. The truck has run fine so I haven't installed it, just lived with hard starts when warm. Mine problem started after injector install when I had to crank the engine a lot to get it to turn over. I think I fried the VP-44. The overwhleming opinion, as you have probably read is that it is the VP-44, although some other "one off" fixes have worked. Please post if the VP-44 replacement fixes this problem. Thanks

 

[Tcolesanti]

The fuel pressure has'nt changed lately, causing a no-prime situation??? I don't know maybe the lift pump is not running long enough before the wait to start light goes off, causing the hard start. Just a check.

 

[Nigel]

I went through this problem with my 99 cab and chassis. We found that if we disconnected the coolant temperature sensor the engine would fire right up. Once started plug the sensor back in. Probably did that for six months before we changed the VP. Wish I had belonged to the TDR in those days, would have saved a lot of money at different shops trying to figure it out.

 

[AMongold]

well the problem ended up being a lot cheaper than a vp after all. i borrowed a scan tool and could not get any codes to come up. i decided to do a load test on my batteries and one failed. i put two new batteries in, and the truck starts like a new one again. when i was having the problem the truck didn't crank slow when it was cold so i never really suspected batteries,but i guess when the batteries were getting hot in the engine compartment they were not putting out enough cranking amps? anyway the load test showed one failed battery,and i was one happy camper i didn't have to buy a vp.