I've got a 1998 GMC Z71 - Trouble cranking after it's been sitting for 2 or more days.

Asked by Egoar Apr 20, 2017 at 02:54 PM about the 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 C1500 SL Extended Cab LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

If I let the truck sit for 2 days without cranking, it is very - very slow to crank.  
If it sits for longer... like a week or more, I will have to spin it over for a good
15 minutes before it will crank.  Now, once it cranks... it never misses a lick.  
If I crank it and drive it every day, it does perfect.  Cranks every time.
What is going on here???
Late entry... Engine (350) installed 22K miles ago.
Fuel pump changed 6 years ago.
New plugs, wires, cap / rotor changed with new engine (22K miles ago)
This is a daily driver (except when I'm at work) and then it does not get
cranked for a week or more at a time.

2 Answers

69,955

YOU SAID VERY SLOW TO CRANK ..TURN OVER... BUT THEN SAY I will have to spin it over for a good 15 minutes before it will crank. ..YOU MEAN START/RUN ?? SO IM NOT SURE WHAT YOUR ASKING OR THE PROBLEM...ANYWAY I WOULD ....LOAD TEST THE BATTERY .....AND CHECK THE STARTER DRAW ......ALSO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER

Slow to crank... meaning, it turns over fine. Just won't crank. Takes several - several attempts (10-15 mins of spinning it over). My confusion is that if I crank and run it every day... there is absolutely no problem. It fires right up. Immediately. No hesitation. But if it sits for 2 - 3 days or more... I have to "crank on it" for a very long time. Like it's not getting fuel. Or the there is no fuel in the line / not primed. I hear the fuel pump in the tank kick on when I turn the key on... I have not started trouble shooting by replacing parts yet. But of course, I will be doing that. I was just wondering if anyone has run across this issue.

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