Truck is a 4.9L 5 speed and every morning, when the truck is cold, it takes a while to start. I have to crank it for about 10 seconds before it will start. When the truck is warm it doesn't do this.

Seems like a fuel, fuel pressure, or ignition problem. But I have no idea what it is. I have nothing to pull codes with but Check engine light is on. It has been on since I bought the truck but this recently started to occur. Any ideas??

 

plug, wires, fuel pressure, battery condition, cap and rotor all good places to start to look for problems.

 

Try turning the key on and off about three times without cranking and then try to start it and see if it starts right up.
Let us know what happens.

 

A bad ECT will give you symptoms like this.

 

Plugs, wires, cap, rotor are all good. Battery is not very old. Fuel pressure? how can I check this?

I have changed the fuel filter, MAF sensor, and TPS already. SUBFORD I will try what you said and see if that works.

What is an ECT?

 

ECT= Engine Coolant Temperature sensor
Kind of does what an automatic choke did for carburetors
adjusts mixture based on temp.

 

Sounds like plugs. How many miles on them? They don't last as long in some vehicles as people think. I found this out years ago with the same problem. For what they cost and effort involved it might not hurt to try.

 

pull codes first. www.fordfuelinjection.com will show you how using a paperclip its easy. dont start throwing money at an unknown problem.

the ect wouldnt affect a cold motor.

 

^^The ECT does affect a cold engine. The Ecu use input from The ECT sensor to enrich the air/fuel mixture when cold and during the warm-up cycle.

 

I have the exact same issue with my truck. We've had a few cooler mornings the last week or so and it's acting the same way. Usually it'll pop off in a second or two, but like he said, at least ten seconds. The minute it fires up it runs fine, no sputtering or hesitation. If you fix yours before I fix mine, pass on the solution..lol. I plan on checking codes in the a.m.

I first noticed it when the temp dropped below 45 at night, and last night it got down to 38, definately worse. Need to fix it before winter hits, it's a long walk to work.

 

FYI, I pulled codes from my truck, and couldn't get anything. I'm going to pull the plugs and check them out in the a.m., once the thing has cooled down. I'm curious though, what is the point of the turning the ignition on and off 3 times...what does that tell you if it does start?

 

When you turn on the fuel pump(s) they will run for one second to bring the fuel system pressure up for starting. If the fuel system drains dry it might take turning the key on and off about three times to charge the system up. If it starts up you know then that you have a bad check valve(s).

 

check valve ?

 

Turning the key on and off 3 times before I cranked the truck over seemed to work. The truck started on the first try. Where do I go from here, what are these valves you speak of?

 

Now from doing the on/off thing we know it is the fuel system.
Most common cause would be a check valve in one of the FDM's.
Fuel injectors would let the pressure down but I do not think they would drain the fuel system dry, the same goes for the FPR.
Do you have a problem with one fuel tank filling while you drive off the other?
If so the tank that is filling is the one with the bad check valve.

Here are diagrams of your fuel system, FDM and the FPR.

Fuel system for 90-96 truck:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...FielSystem.jpg

FDM from 90-96:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...yAssembly2.gif

FPR:
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...Fuel/fpr02.gif