# Cold start trouble

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/cold-start-trouble/35131>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** sonoma, gmc\
**Created:** [August 16, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cold-start-trouble/35131 "2009-08-16T15:33:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lbridge777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Lbridge777](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Lbridge777)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cold-start-trouble/35131/1 "2009-08-16T15:33:20Z")

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Have a 2001 GMC Sonamoa. 4.3, 273,000 miles. Great truck, runs great. Kept up all maint. Recently have difficulty starting after sitting for a few hours. Tuned up this week, no help. Thinking maybe the fuel filter. Any sugesstions?

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cold-start-trouble/35131/2 "2009-08-16T17:54:13Z")

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Good thought on changing the fuel filter, and, then, check the fuel pressure.  
Two possibilities (at least): the engine, at start is rich; the engine, at start is lean.  
For rich (flooded condition), hold the gas pedal to the floor as you crank the engine, for up to 15 seconds at a time. As/if the engine starts, ease up on the gas.  
For lean condition, at start, turn the ignition to RUN for 4 seconds, OFF, RUN for 4 seconds, OFF, RUN for 4 seconds. Attempt to start. Results?

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**Author:** ![Lbridge777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Lbridge777](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Lbridge777)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cold-start-trouble/35131/3 "2009-08-17T09:08:44Z")

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Thanks for the suggesations. I’ll give it a try and let you know.

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**Author:** ![Lbridge777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Lbridge777](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Lbridge777)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cold-start-trouble/35131/4 "2009-08-17T09:09:21Z")

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Sorry about my typing.

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**Author:** ![Lbridge777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Lbridge777](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Lbridge777)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cold-start-trouble/35131/5 "2009-08-18T04:03:07Z")

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Tried to start for both lean and rich. No luck. I’ll try changing the fuel filter next. (Maybe tomorrow) If nothing then, I guess she goes to the shop. Thanks for the info.