97 start up

Well here is a question for you all, I have a 1997 1500 I have a performance chip, duel SS exhaust with magaflow muffles. New fuel pump (o-what fun) A new tranny (only 1300 dollars in town here for a rebuild ) (great shop) new plugs, wires, rotor, cap KN air cleaner. was starting fine then a month later it now will crank and not start unless you crank it alot. Then if you stop cranking and then hit it again it starts right up. What is with this. I have cleaned the postive two piece cable. My wife wants a auto starter but I do not think the thing would work right. I have no codes and after the first start all you have top do is touch the starter and it fires right up. This has been going on for a month, I tried a new gas station and checked all the wires and Vacuum lines. HELP GUYS

TOM

Fuel filter, cap and rotor first. More serious issues: you may be looking at intake gaskets leaking(if they haven't been changed already), catalytic converters starting to clog up, fuel pressure regulator, clogged or leaking spider injector assembly, or even the possibility that your fuel pump is an "el cheapo" and is already starting to fail.......just my 2 cents. Hope this leads you to some possible answers. -Chris

You need to get a fuel pressure gauge on it on the cold start and check fuel pressure.
If fuel pressure is not up to specs the injectors will not squirt fue on a cold start.
Do not leave home without good fuel pressure.
What kind of spark plugs did you feed it? What engine and engine code? Any check engine lights?
Post back your cold start and engine running fuel pressure and also watch for a fast leak down on fuel pressure.
MT-2500

Hey Spit, MT
Thanks, OK it has a new pump not cheap and does run when I trun the key, new cap, rotor, wires ac OEM plugs and does not matter if cold or 100 degrees outside still just a problem on first start up. To set it straight it does still start I just may have to crank for 7 to 10 seconds, I have never in the 102,000 miles had to do more then touch the starter and it started right up all the time even after the turn up, then a month later it starts this crap. I am thinking of changing back to the orginal cap and rotor.

Later TOM

This may be a fuel pump problem. Check for bleed off after you shut the truck off. This happened to me on my 99 silverado before I got rid of it. Anyway there is a check valve in the pump assembly and it was not closing all the way allowing the fuel to drain out of the rails. New fuel pump and the problem when away.

Will it start if you good if you flip the key on and off several times to prime up pressure before trying to start it?
Hard/slow to start cold or hot.
Check cold start fuel pressure.
Check engine running fuel pressure.
Check engine running on the road fuel pressure.
Then shut it off and watch for fast leak down.
Pinch off at rubber part or block off return line and check full pressure.
Later V6 and V8 gm engines should have 60-66 fuel pressure.
Cold start should be 64-65 lbs of pressure.
If you do not have full fuel pressure on a cold start the injectors will not squirt fuel.
Do not leave home without it.
Engine running should be 60-66 lbs pressure depending on engine load.
Full pressure with return pinched off should be 75-85 or more.
And if it has a fast leak down after shut off you have a leak in fuel system pump ,pressure reg or injector ,or fuel reg orfuel line.
Post back fuel pressure readings.
Mt-2500

I will have to get a fuel pressure gauge, I have to find where to connect the gauge, I do not think it is the fuel pump as this has been changed with the same results. As I said I never drive this but my better half said it does this when it is cold out, never a problem over 50 degrees. at 20 degrees it seems to not want to start right up, if you crank it for 10-15 seconds it will start up. It does seem to be a fuel problem to me but I like the response from all of you. I did replace the plugs and the wires with OEM as I was told that any other plugs will cause more problems.
Thanks

The fuel pressure check not only check the fuel bump but other stuff on the fuel system.
Make sure pressure is up to specs.
The injectors will not squirt on a cold start if not.
Post back fuel pressure readings.
MT