89 Ranger - difficulty starting??

[rh2848]

My 89 Ranger is giving me a fair share of fits lately. It seems that intermittantly it wants to be very difficult to start. It cranks, but takes a long time to turn over, and seems like it wants gas to start but isn't getting it. After a while of trying repeatedly, it will finally go, and then runs just fine once it has a minute or two to warm up. Other days it starts just fine, with no hesitation. Once I start it after the difficulty in the morning, the problem never reoccurs throughout the day, only the next day when it has been sitting for several hours overnight. It seems to do it almost randomly and the only connection I can make is that is does it on days it has been raining and excessively damp. I thought it was exclusive to cold days, but that isn't the case. Where should I begin trying to figure this out? Would there be a possible connection between the heavy moisture and starting difficulties? Or is that just coincidence, and there is something else I need to look into?

Thanks in advance, and sorry if anything I have asked about is redundant on this forum.

Richard
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[Psychopete]

Seems like a fuel delivery problem. Is that a 2.9L? How cold is it out? If it's not too cold I would attempt to spray some ether in you upper intake plenum and see if it fires. If it does, then you should test the fuel pressure. It it's too low, the only thing that comes to mind is the fuel filter, but I haven't had the pleasure of fixing fuel delivery problems. I imagine it could be something else.

I wonder if you're getting water in your fuel? I am not sure if water can freeze in gasoline though, never tried it.

Just some thoughts...

Pete

[SVTcobra306]

When was the last fuel filter change? Change that, and a coolant temp sensor going bad can also cause cold start problems.

When was the last tune-up done? could be moisture buildup in the distributor...