hard start 2001

[jablome483]

my 01 4.0 starts hard after it has been sitting for a few hours or more (cranks for about 5 seconds before firing), but when the engine is warm it starts up fine. i tried cleaning the iac valve, no luck. i will be getting a fuel pressure test kit soon. I would like everyones input because im no engine expert, i need to get this resolved before i do damage to the starter

 

[Big Jim M]

Do the key on 10 secs before starting test to see if fuel is leaking back into the tank while sitting.
Big JIm

 

[jablome483]

tested the fuel pressure today. turning the key a few times gets the pressure up from 0 to 40 or so psi. then it starts just fine, idles at 65-67psi, then after the engine is shut off it drops to 20 in about 30 seconds then slows down and drops to 0 after about 5 minutes. must be leaking back into the tank so...what now?

 

[modelageek]

tested the fuel pressure today. turning the key a few times gets the pressure up from 0 to 40 or so psi. then it starts just fine, idles at 65-67psi, then after the engine is shut off it drops to 20 in about 30 seconds then slows down and drops to 0 after about 5 minutes. must be leaking back into the tank so...what now?

most likely the check valve in the tank is acting up. if it was my truck I would change the fuel filter and throw some Techron in the tank...........if that doesn't work you would have to swap out the pump..........do you use Shell gas by any chance?

 

[Big Jim M]

Easy!

tested the fuel pressure today. turning the key a few times gets the pressure up from 0 to 40 or so psi. then it starts just fine, idles at 65-67psi, then after the engine is shut off it drops to 20 in about 30 seconds then slows down and drops to 0 after about 5 minutes. must be leaking back into the tank so...what now?

So you have a leak-back problem.. It's easy to deal with.. Just turn the key to the run position for 5 or 10 seconds before starting..
As for the repair.. I wouldn't until something else happens that requires a fix.. But if you just HAVE to repair it then replace the fuel pump in the tank. THAT is where the oneway valve is that must be leaking backwards for the fuel to back up.
But I wouldn't!
Big JIm

 

[jablome483]

just replaced the fuel filter today and put in injector cleaner. i always get my gas at stewarts, i think its only a northern new york store cause ive never seen one anywhere else, i have no idea where their gas comes from. and yes i do want to fix it, its my only vehicle and i really dont wanna jerk around with the key everytime i drive it. can just the check valve be replaced or fixed, or do i need the whole pump

 

[modelageek]

just replaced the fuel filter today and put in injector cleaner. i always get my gas at stewarts, i think its only a northern new york store cause ive never seen one anywhere else, i have no idea where their gas comes from. and yes i do want to fix it, its my only vehicle and i really dont wanna jerk around with the key everytime i drive it. can just the check valve be replaced or fixed, or do i need the whole pump

lets see if the new filter and inject cleaner does anything. I SWEAR BY TECHRON I WOULD PUT THAT IN MY TRUCK. I think you need to replace the whole pump...but Big Jim should know!...........was the filter very dirty? did you put the new one in the right direction?

 

[Big Jim M]

Well

just replaced the fuel filter today and put in injector cleaner. i always get my gas at stewarts, i think its only a northern new york store cause ive never seen one anywhere else, i have no idea where their gas comes from. and yes i do want to fix it, its my only vehicle and i really dont wanna jerk around with the key everytime i drive it. can just the check valve be replaced or fixed, or do i need the whole pump

I know of these things lasting for years with the backflo valve not working as designed. BUT if you want to go to the trouble of replacing it...
I don't know of the valve itself being available...it may be. HOWEVER if I went to the trouble to get in there, I'd for sure put all new in before I closed it up. You'd hate yourself if you found a backflo valve and replaced it only to have the pump go out in a few months.
Big JIm

 

[modelageek]

Throw a 20 gallon Bottle of Techron in. If you do change the pump it is just as easy to remove the bed check your rear leafspring hangers and shackles for rust

 

[modelageek]

Big jim. Is it possible a leaky injector can cause this issue? Are there any codes?

 

[Big Jim M]

well maybe

Big jim. Is it possible a leaky injector can cause this issue? Are there any codes?

By far the cause of this problem is leak back not leaky injectors. Was it an injector there would be other signals besides slow starting after sitting.
Big Jim

 

[jablome483]

thanks for the replies everybody. the fuel filter is on the correct way, but hasnt fixed the problem. im going to just replace the whole pump, i have to take the bed off soon to fix some rust holes in the bed floor anyways so ill change the pump while the beds off. until then ill just use the key to build up pressure so i dont wear out my starter.

 

[modelageek]

Humor me and addsome TECHRON!

 

[jablome483]

haha ok i will do that

 

[raresolid]

You know I am experiencing a similar issue now that the mornings are getting a bit colder, I find my 2006 4.0L has a slight hesitation when trying to start it. When the motor is warm/hot it starts up right away but once it sits overnight and I go to start it in the morning, it doesn't fire right away. I am going to try the cycling the key a few times to see if that fixes it.