Thread: Hard Starts

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I have been trying to get my fathers Chevy 1500 Vortec V6 running. It's a 1996 with about 55,000 miles on it. The problem is it will turn over fine but acts like it is not getting fuel. So far I have put in new plugs, new fuel filter, new air cleaner. It will start right up and stay running fine with a shot of ether to the air intake. What am I missing?

First of all ya better stop using ether..It is really hard on a gas engine especially yours...Ya need to know the fuel pump pressure..It takes a special high pressure gauge that plumbs into the system...Ever changed the fuel filter.???..I would start there...Its a special inline on the tank side of the fuel line...Maybe a local shop can help.......

well to start with I don't know anything about them........ but is it fuel injected......... if so some times they use a cold start injector
can't tell you who does and don't....... I'm sure someone here can let us know

MM64

Just put in a new fuel filter so that is not it. Thought I would try what I could before taking it to a shop.

Yes it's fuel injected.

Inline's right on the money. Sounds fuel pumpish.....Ether BAAAAAD!!!!!!!!!

Ok, enlighten me as to the negative effects of using starting fluid out of curiosity?

Ether when used excessively can create extreme cylinder pressure and even lock up an engine because it can ignite prematurely with low compression. If it won't start without it, it won't run without it. If your engine isn't getting fuel, ether is not a good substitute. If it is getting fuel or flooded, ether can ignite all that extra fuel at a bad time creating a firing with valves open sending fire through the intake. Hard on injection and carburetion.

Thanks for the info. Is excessively the Key word here? Does a quick spray on the air filter cause extreme cylinder pressure?

Sometimes excessive isn't very much!

It needs a fuel pump , This is a very common problem I can't recall the exact fuel preasure spec at the moment I beleive it's 65 psi but if the pump looses just 2-3 lb's of preasure it'll do xactly as ya describe replace the fuel filter also.
And this ain't a part to save bucks on you need to get it from the dealer or an A C Delco supplier if'n ya don't wanna do it again very soon. By the way the fuel pump is in the gas tank........
ASE- Master tech

Thanks HWORRELL, if it is the fuel pump then wouldn’t the motor starve for fuel after it is running? Once I get it running it idles and drives fine.

Not on that bugger, they'll run perfect after ya hit it with some extra fuel to get it goin, The pumps down on preasure a couple or three lbs. and it hasta have that extra couple pounds ta open the poppet valves on that weird injector assembly on start up. Like I said before very common problem and they went to a different setup after a couple years.....