I've got a '94 C2500 Extended Cab with an original 172k mile 5.7L and it takes 1-2 full seconds of cranking to get my engine to "catch" and not die. The idle is also lumpy and rough until it gets it first rev past 1500 RPM. This is what happens in nice 60 degree Fahrenheit SoCal weather.

I took the truck up to Bear Mountain at 7000 feet elevation and 30 degree Fahrenheit temperature and I couldn't get the truck to start with just turning the key and cranking. I used a trick I found online a while back. I floored the throttle first and then turned the keys and cranked the engine. This has always been a surefire means of getting the engine to start even after an successful attempt at normal cranking. At the mountain I did this and then revved the engine in Park at 1500 RPM for ten seconds or so because it tried to die at lower RPMs. The truck started fine after being driven a bit but would be hard to start again as soon as it sat for more then a couple of hours.

I remember reading that flooring the throttle before turning the keys tells the engine computer to not inject but just spark and crank. This made some sense because I read that high mile 5.7L's get leaky injectors after some time and thus the need for a no-inject crank mode.

Is there any truth to this? Can someone give me some facts to help in understanding this trick?

Should my truck be hard to start with 172k and no rebuild?

And one last question. When I step on the gas from a stop, the truck putters for a split second or two before rev'ing and moving forward. A friend of mine rode shotgun and told me my torquer converter is shot. Does this make sense to anyone?

I'm trying to learn as much as possible about what's really going on in my Chevy truck. Help is appreciated. :smokin:

No takers?

If the torque converter is shot... it would not just not work for 2 seconds, and make the motor stumble then run fine. Is the truck pulling any codes?

There's no Check Engine Light. I think there can still be codes that don't throw the CEL, but I havn't check them. I think the truck has OBD1. Will the free AutoZone scanner pull codes from my truck?

Either the scanner or you can pull them yourself by shorting a few pins.

Try this link: http://www.troublecodes.net/GM/

Sounds like you have a senser bad or something. TPS maybe?

How long since the last tune up? Cap, rotor, wires, plugs and most importantly FUEL FILTER.

Cap, rotors, wires, plugs done 1 year ago.

Not sure on fuel filter but the mechanic who replaced the catalytic converter this August also checked the fuel filter and said it was fine.

when it is idling rough remove the air cleaner and spray some carb cleaner or starting fluid in the throttle body. see if the idle smoothes out......

Change the fuel filter, if that's not it, it will still help. I change mine at every oil change.

Mmmmm....fuel filter....:beer:

Fuel filter, IAC motor, coil all suspect. Also check values on a scanner

EGR valve