Issue with Cold Starts, SOHC ??

[frickea86]

hey guys, i have been having this problem lately when the weather has been cold out, 20F or below. The truck has no trouble starting but once it started it dies down to rpms way under 500 and is barely running until it kicks back up to its normal starting rpms at 1500 when its cold. Normally it jumps right up to 1500 or so and then starts dropping down as the engine warms up. This just seemed to start this year.

My thoughts on the matter are:
1. Could be a fuel pump, because starting this fall after the truck was running for a while, if i turned it off to go run into a store and come back out and start it, the engine would just crank and no run. Turn the key all the way back to off and try it again, starts right up. Only did this to me two or three times.

2. Might be the IAC Valve is not moving as fast as the computer wants it to and is chocking off the engine.

3. I have an alternator going but the battery is still good and starting amps are 13.8 volts when the battery is cold. But never the less i still tested the battery and it passes, battery doesn't loose much voltage. So my only thought is once the truck starts it doesn't have enough juice to keep going until the alternators starts charging the battery back up. I highly doubt this is the cause.

Sorry for the length of the post, any suggestions?

Engine is a SOHC, fuel filter has been just replaced about 5 months ago.

 

[frickea86]

bump

 

[01 Black Sport]

Is the engine stalling also?? My 2001 does the same thing and from what ive gathered from this awsome site is the intake gaskets and or recall kit 00m12, which includes the gaskets.

 

[aldive]

Have you checked the fuel pressure?

Could very well be an IAC issue.

 

[frickea86]

Have you checked the fuel pressure?

Could very well be an IAC issue.

how can you check the fuel pressure?

the reason i feel it has something to do with the fuel is because it started this weired thing where it wouldn't start when i turned the key over, but the engine would but no fire. but if i turned the key to off and retry it would fire right up. thats why i thought it might of been a relay or the fuel pump.

 

[Blee1099]

Go out to the local parts store and rent a fuel pressure gauge and put it on the shrader valve on the fuel rail..

 

[CDW6212R]

Find the fuel pressure regulator, and the vacuum line going to it. If the regulator goes bad, or vacuum is not getting to it, you have too much pressure at idle. While running pull that vacuum line and plug the end with your finger. The idle should get worse because of higher fuel pressure. If there is no change then the pressure is not being reduced by the vacuum line. Good luck,