Slow start

[EBurgess]

First time engine fired up in the morning it takes longer than normal to start- starter turning over normal RPM, batteries three years old but showing good voltage. After driving twenty to thirty minutes and going to store, etc. , the next start catches pretty close to normal. Fuel filter?

 

[Slow Six]

What year and engine etc? This is a common problem with 03. If you do a search on here you will find an evening's worth of reading. A couple of common causes are injectors & crossover tubes and sometimes batteries.

 

[EBurgess]

Changed fuel filter as it was due anyway. Seemed to help but two weeks later another morning where it took way too long to catch but cranking normally. 170K on original injectors- maybe I need to investigate.

 

[p-Bar]

Your leaking down in the HPCR likely injectors. When it's hot the tolerances are tighter . You could try having the cross tubes retorqued but with as many miles you have on them it may be time. You should think too on increasing your fuel filtration as you may see more life out the injectors . Good luck be careful with the reman stuff try to by brand new they are hard to find.

 

[EBurgess]

Truck died on the way to work this morning- lift pump hosed. Would start and run for a few seconds. Could whack it and it would run a little longer. I guess @170K miles it doesn't owe me anything. Let you know how the repair turns out. Thanks!

 

[LNaugle]

Yeah, i just had an 03 that would barely put out 3psi on initial start up first thing in the am and by the time the wts light went off it was down to 0... . causing hard start... bump the starter and let pump run, started better... replaced lift pump and is better...

 

[EBurgess]

New lift pump and she fired up this morning (25 degrees outside temp) normally. Truck was getting just over 20mpg when not towing and I'll verify the next couple of tankfulls to see if anything has changed. I'm hoping that is all my fuel problems for the moment. The only time in ten years she stranded me. Thanks for the responses.

 

[sindarblue]

How's the progress? I have the exact same truck, same mileage, have been dealing with the exact same problems for the last two months.

 

[p-Bar]

The filter mounted fuel pumps don't have much life to them 03,04,04. 5 they went to intake in the 05 and up models. Hope this fixed your problem

 

[EBurgess]

19. 2 mpg on first tank since new pump (not towing)- down 1mpg but that is only one tank. Truck does not catch as quickly as it did but it takes the same amount of time to catch whether hot or cold now. Maybe this is the new norm or I might still have an issue. I will keep you posted. The next thing will be the clutch as that is original with 170K on it as well but for now she is still kicking! Don't want to spend the money but don't want to be left on the roadside with my trailer one day... .

 

[EBurgess]

This winter the truck would have long crank time when cold. Plug it in below 40 degrees and it was much better. One morning (at the airport) at 19 degrees, it would not fire. Cranking just fine. No electricity to plug her in- tow truck. Kept plugging in it to start knowing in the back of my mind that is was injector time. Finally took it to TRE Performance in Va Beach- Tim Barber is the man. New injectors, great service, cranks up almost instantly without plugging it in. I guess at 188000 on the original injectors I did OK.
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