[ramonaut]

I have difficulty starting my 1993 Ram 350 Van on cold mornings.

After turning the key to the on position, I have to wait (the amount of time I wait depends on the overnight low temperature) for the fuel pump relay to start clicking. After a while, the check engine light starts to flash in time with the relay. It gets brighter and brighter until the relay stops clicking and the engine light is solid and bright.

Once the engine light is bright and constant, the engine will start easily.

Last year a local shop “diagnosed” the problem as a bad fuel pump. They replaced it for $450.00. The next morning the van was doing the same thing. I then replaced the feul pump relay which did not solve the problem. The local shop suspects the computer now and would like the opportunity to replace it and charge me another wad of cash on a hunch.

It seems like the electrical system needs to warm up before the van will start.

Does anyone have any ideas? Someone else described this same problem on another forum. But the answers were replace the fuel pump and the relay, which I have already done.

Thanks, Don…