1998 Blazer w/Very Rough Start

Hot or cold, this Blazer does not want to start correctly. Engine will crank over numerous times and it "may" catch but it seems like just about at that moment you see the engine shake as if a misfire and then you have to try and re-start again. This can go on for several minutes before it will finally catch and run. Briefly, after it starts , there seems to be a smell like excess gas in the tail pipe for a short time afterwards. Once it starts, it runs like new. No hesitation, no loss of power. Can cruise around town at 30 m.p.h or the interstate at 60 m.p.h. and engine runs perfect. Replaced the ignition switch, ignition module, and crank sensor. Battery reads 12.9 without running and 14.2 at idle. Fuel filter was changed and the pump is showing 63 psi ( with engine NOT running ). It just has this problem during the start ups. As far as the temperature, it doesn't make a difference. It does this outside in the cold, bring it inside the warehouse for a few days,( temp in the warehouse is 82 degrees ), and it still does this. Once the vehicle has started, you can drive it all day, or for 10 minutes, regardless of time, when you try and re-start it, the hard start will always occur again. Once again, any and ALL suggestions are appreciated.

Ummm.....

Ever done a tuneup?

Rap & Rotor?
Plugs?
Wires?
Air Filter?
PCV valve?

Problem may be cured, ( knock on wood). Yesterday we had bought new plugs, wires and cap. Cap was easiest to do so we replaced it and vehicle seemed to start fine. Brought it into the warehouse ,( because it is warmer to work on in here ), and we hooked up the fule pressure gauge. Checked the fuel pressure, ( 62psi ), then we went to start it and are starting problems popped up again. Because they have the darn schrader valve up almost against the #1 plug wire we figured that that when we hooked up the gauge it must have disturbed that connection and the plug wire may have been shorting out when trying to start. So we replaced the plugs and wires as planned and then it seemed to start just fine, but now we are getting two new codes. I will start a new thread on those. Thanks for all your suggestions. It just seems that everyone on here has a problem with their Blazer and it seems that OUR Blazer has EVERY ONE of these problems. Wish I was so lucky in the Lottery.

All is NOT well, this morning it reverted back to its bad habit of not wanting to start.

Did you replace the rotor as well?

How about all the other things I stated that needed to be replaced?

yes sir, all have been replaced.

How about the fuel filter?

yes we replaced it also. Seems like we have done everything that can be done, we are either overlooking the obvious our it is something so minor that we haven't considered it yet. None of the "Normal" fixes are doing it. We still get that P1345 code on the cam shaft / crank shaft sensor. About the only part not yet replaced is that cam shaft sensor in the distributor.

That might be it, but I wonder if the timing has jumped a tooth.

we are getting the same code and problem all the sudden, we replaced a blown head gasket, and assemled everything, the distributor went back as marked now the thing sounds like its going to blow up until it starts then everything runs great. It jumps so hard at the start up we broke a starter bolt in the block. I'm drilling that out tonight and will try again. If you find the problem before I do let me know, I'll do the same.we are getting the 1345 code as soon as you hit the key or at times we get a flashing 8888 that code has only come up twice and won't reset with code scanner you have to unhook the battery. There is a bright side to these blazer problems we all now have somewhere to vent our problems.

You have a major timing problem, check your distributor position and check to see if it is 180 degrees out.

fuel pressure regulator fixed my starting problems on my 98 blazer i was getting poor gas mileage along with hard starting ....good luck