Cold & hot start problem on a 96'.

[Mollieandgil]

Hi folks, here's my truck's history, in case it may help you suggest what the problem is, and the problem.

My truck is a 96' F250. I've owned it since 98'. This is a list of mods, though I may be forgetting something. It has been a long time since I did these mods, probably round 2003.

Bean's 175s (just a few weeks after he started doing them)
Twildman's program in a TS chip, programmed by Ryan Bean
Hypermax downpipe
Cat delete
Walker BTM muffler
4" exhaust
Airflow Inc intake (same as Tymar)
D60
Southbend single-mass flywheel, clutch, pressure plate assembly

That's all I can think of right now, there may be one or two things that I'm forgetting, but it probably doesn't matter. I'm just trying to give you all the info that I can.

Here is the problem.

It used to take just 1 turn of the crank for the engine to start, but now it will take around 10 seconds, maybe longer, whether the engine is cold or warm. I can shut it off, and start it again within 10 minutes and it will still have a long crank time. The outside temperature can be 80 degrees, and it won't change a thing. Sometimes while it's cranking it will start firing and then start about 3 seconds later.

And I don't know if this is related, but most of the time when the engine is cold and I start to drive away, it feels like and acts like it isn't getting enough fuel or maybe only firing on a few cylinders. It's best described as a cold-natured carburetor engine. After about 3 minutes pass, it runs like it always has.

It still has tons of power.

I haven't checked the GPR, but after 2 minutes the voltage guage jumps up from around 8v to 14v and the headlights will brighten, just as it's supposed to, just as it always has.

Thanks for any help.

[Mollieandgil]

Well no replies yet here. But I've been doing some reading on this forum, and there's a ton of great info on just about everything. But I think I'm going to start with a fuel pressure guage.

[Mollieandgil]

How does this pressure look? Low?

Fuel pressure.MOV - YouTube

Fuel pressure.MOV - YouTube

[White95f250]

Video isn't too good for me to see the pressure. I apologize for not seeing this earlier or I would have responded. It sounds like you are having an electrical problem somewhere in there. Check your batteries either yourself or taking them to the parts store. Not having enough current will greatly affect the starting on these things. You've had yours long enough to know what that can do i'm sure. Also the GPR and glow plugs could be going bad. Your truck has similar symptoms to mine in that I have to let it warm up good before driving it. Also my hpop could use replacing. Your oil could be draining out of the hpop as it sits which causes the longer cranking time for starting.

Check batteries, alternator, hpop and again I can't see the fuel pressure too good on the screen to tell where it's at. Your fuel pump could be going too but it seemed ok from what I could see. Also when was the last time you changed your fuel filter and cleaned the fuel bowl? I can only imagine what it looks like in the bottom of that thing as well as your FPR screen if it's never been cleaned.

I hope this is a little start on your problem. Again I apologize we haven't replied sooner.