Starting Problem '97 1500

[vandeoverkant]

hey, I've been searching the net trying to find the solution to my problem without much success for a while now so I hope someone here can help me out.

 

I have a '97 Sierra 1500 4.3L V6, when I start it, it seems like the battery does not have enough power on the first try, then the starter turns it over without much luck on the second try, and then by the third time I turn over the key the engine usually starts but then dies down again as the rpm drops to idle, I can prevent this by giving it some gas for a few seconds (or sometimes it starts at a high? 3000rpm for a few second before dropping back by itself) and then once it is running it will run fine and drive perfectly...

 

I have checked the battery and its connectors which are all fine.

My understanding is that if its the starter it wouldnt start at all, and if it is the fuel pump it wouldnt run at all (correct me if i'm wrong), the thing is after a couple tries it always ends up running.

It seemed to be a problem when it had been sitting for a while (overnight) at first, but now it has even happened after it ran within 30 minutes before.

 

If anyone has any suggestion on how else I can troubleshoot this problem it would be much appreciated.

[jrrod2004]

Dirty/worn plugs (spark plugs), fuel pump getting clogged (or dirty), truck not breathing right, hard to say when it dies, but is sounds like a fuel delivery problem. Fuel pump may not be sending the correct amount to the engine or it may be not be at the correct pressure. I would recommend cleaning out the fuel system with cleaner (do a search here for that), and deep creeping the intake, (for better breathing - also do a search here on that). Perhaps changing the plugs would help as well.

[georgerosen06]

same thing happened to my sisters jeep...granted her jeep is a pos but it was the fuel filter was clogged and the fuel pump was on its way out