Starts then dies, help me out!?

[SuperRanger91]

Ive got my 1991 xlt with the 2.9, when i start up the ole' girl (after sitting all night) it runs for 10 or so seconds then dies. i start it the second time and it stays goin.

Are my injectors dirty? How can i fix this for cheep? ive replaced all the plugs, wires and distributor cap plus the rotor.

Could it be an air problem? please help me out, thanks

 

[RonD]

Could be a few things.

I sounds like a fuel issue but CPU could be cutting spark.
I would get a can of Starting Fluid to start with, and a friend.
Next morning remove air plenum from intake.
Have friend start engine, if it starts to die spray some Starting Fluid into the intake and see if that keeps it running.
If Starting Fluid keeps it running then fuel is the problem.
If it still dies then no spark is the problem.

When you turn on the key do you hear the fuel pump come on for 1 or 2 seconds?

Do you notice a gas smell in the engine compartment or anywhere else around the truck?
Could be a leak in the fuel system is causing it to loose pressure overnight as it sits.

 

[SuperRanger91]

The fuel pump kicks on and if i let the pump run then it starts fine but sometimes when i start it, it'll run like it has a miss and when i give it the gas it comes out of it and runs fine. Would clogged injectors cause that to happen??

 

[AgPete139]

How does it idle? I wonder if something pertaining to the IAC could be a culprit.

Something definitely sounds clogged though. Have you tried adding solvents to break up any carbon deposits in your fuel lines?

 

[RonD]

Reads like a loss of pressure in fuel rail when truck is sitting, especially if turning on the key a few times before starting helps, each time you turn on the key the fuel pump primes the system, so builds up lost pressure.

I would feel around the fuel lines and rail with your fingers then smell you fingers for gas smell.
Fuel injectors have rubber "O" rings that can crack and leak pressure, so feel around those as well.
Also remove the vacuum line on the fuel pressure regulator, it is on the fuel rail.
If the vacuum line smells like gas then regulators diaphragm is leaking.
I would run the engine like normal for the day and then an hour after shutting it down feel the fuel lines, if its leaking the warmth of the engine will evaporate the fuel if it sits overnight, so no smell, after an hour the engine won't be as hot, so no burnt fingers , and if there is a leak there would still be gas to smell.

A stuck open injector could cause the problem but you would see grey smoke out of the exhaust when you first started engine, and it wouldn't be as intermittant as you describe.
An injector is just a needle valve that opens and closes, an electric solenoid opens it and a spring closes it.
A "dirty" injector usually means it is not Spraying fuel into the intake, it is Dripping fuel into the intake, this causes a poor air/fuel mix, the nozzles on the intake end of the injector promote the Spraying, these can get dirty, but the fuel pressure is main thing that causes Spraying vs Dripping.
Most name brand gasoline includes additives that help keep needle valve and nozzles clean.


I put a can of Seafoam in the gas tank once a year, just because, it is not expensive and it won't hurt anything, never had injector issues, but can't say its because of the Seafoam or not.