Having to hold the key for longer before it starts?

[jessdela]

A couple of weeks ago, my 99 Blazer 4x4 was taking longer to start. It would crank just fine, everything sounded like normal, but I would have to hold the key longer before it would actually start. It seemed to do it more after it had been sitting longer. If it had just been running, it would start up no problem. I brought it to the shop, and they told me it needed a fuel pump. They replaced the pump. I got it back and to my delight, it was working great, and replacing this fixed a couple of other problems I was having.

All of a sudden yesterday, after driving all day in hot weather, it was doing the same thing only this time, it seemed it just wouldn't start well if it was hot, but once the sun went down, it had no problems, even after a long drive (hour long). Any ideas what this could be??

[Rbraczyk]

Maybe a starter soleniod. Have the fuel filter changed.

[BlazerLT]

jessdela,

Did they replace the fuel filter when they replaced the pump?
Do you have any visible fuel leaks or can you ever smell gas?
Hold long do you have to hold it before it starts?
Have you ever has you fuel pressure regulator checked?

[jessdela]

Did they replace the fuel filter when they replaced the pump? No, because I had just changed the filter about 25000 miles ago (don't know how long they should last).

Do you have any visible fuel leaks or can you ever smell gas? No

Hold long do you have to hold it before it starts? Only a few seconds, maybe 5 tops, but instead of it cranking once or twice then starting, it's doing it about 5-6 times now.

Have you ever has you fuel pressure regulator checked? Not unless they had to do this to know the fuel pump was bad.


Would it be the filter when it just seemed to do it all of a sudden out of nowhere, and once the temperature in the air cooled down, it was fine? I would think (and I obviously know not much about vehicle repairs) that if it were the filter, the temperature wouldn't matter...Just a guess.. ?? Any thoughts on this are VERY appreciated! I'm already $700 under after this fuel pump replacement, and now someone has also slashed one of my tires as it sat in the road near the shop hoping to get it in.

[BlazerLT]

Sorry about the tire slash, I have no idea why people lower themselves to do that.

Any reputable shop will always replace the fuel filter when they replace the fuel pump. It is just a known safe practise seeing a fuel filter only costs 15 bucks or so.

A fuel filter should be replaced every 12,000 miles or 12 months under normal driving conditions. Seeing you had your fuel pump changed, they should have changed the filter.

These are the possible causes of the problem:

1) Blocked Fuel Filter
2.) Fuel Pressure Regulatornot allowing fuel pressure to hold.
3.) Overheating Ignition Coil
4.) Check Valve in the tank not seating properly and fuel in the fuel lines is draining back into the tank when it should stay in the lines.

Have someone check the fuel pressure when you first turn the truck on after it sitting for a while.