4.3 liter wont start on the first crank.

I'm wearing out my starter. It takes 3 short cranking sessions to start
the 4.3 liter in my 2000 Astrovan, maybe 5 or 6 on cold mornings. For
most of its life it started on the first crank. Now it takes at least
two short cranks when hot and 3 or 4 when cold. I could crank until the
battery was dead and it wouldn't start on the first crank, most likely
the second too. Three short cranks of 3 or 4 seconds will have it
running every time. Until I figured out this secret I was cranking the
hell out of it on the first two and maybe flooding it to the point of
not starting at all for a couple of hours. Flooding is only a guess
althought it smelled of gas. Coming from the old school it's hard not
to pump it a time or two if it doesn't go right away. For a while I was
getting some missing from time to time. I changed the plugs, 125000
miles, and that cured the missing although not immediatly. Before the
plug change I got a trouble code from time to time. I forget the number
but the error was, "random misses" or something to that affect. The
code wasn't definative.

Now please don't respond with some bullshit about how I'm stupid and
4.3s never start on the first crank and I'm expecting too much. If
that's the best you've got to contribute I don't want to hear it.

Anybody experiencing a similar problem? Better yet, has anybody had
that problem and found a solution?

Thanks,

Jim

Random Misfires means just that - the computer doesn't see a misfire
on the same plug all the time.

Some things it could be:
1. Clogged fuel filter - when did you last change this?
2. Fuel pump
3. Fuel pressure regulator
4. Rotor, Distributor cap
5. Plug wires (unless changed when you did the plugs)

Save 2 and 3 till later, do 1, 4, and 5. You might also get the
computer scanned with a higher-quality scanner - there are often codes
scored that won't turn on the check engine light, but which can
provide clues. The Autozone scanner they use for you, as I recall only
pulls "set" codes (ie, once the light is on). A dealer or independent
shop will have a much better scan tool that can provide more info.

A few other things, not likely.. exhaust leak; plugged cat converter.
Bad sensor. other emissions things.

"jim" <jpeter.DeleteThis@marlette.k12.mi.us> wrote:

>I'm wearing out my starter. It takes 3 short cranking sessions to start
>the 4.3 liter in my 2000 Astrovan, maybe 5 or 6 on cold mornings. For
>most of its life it started on the first crank. Now it takes at least
>two short cranks when hot and 3 or 4 when cold. I could crank until the
>battery was dead and it wouldn't start on the first crank, most likely
>the second too. Three short cranks of 3 or 4 seconds will have it
>running every time. Until I figured out this secret I was cranking the
>hell out of it on the first two and maybe flooding it to the point of
>not starting at all for a couple of hours. Flooding is only a guess
>althought it smelled of gas. Coming from the old school it's hard not
>to pump it a time or two if it doesn't go right away. For a while I was
>getting some missing from time to time. I changed the plugs, 125000
>miles, and that cured the missing although not immediatly. Before the
>plug change I got a trouble code from time to time. I forget the number
>but the error was, "random misses" or something to that affect. The
>code wasn't definative.
>
>Now please don't respond with some bullshit about how I'm stupid and
>4.3s never start on the first crank and I'm expecting too much. If
>that's the best you've got to contribute I don't want to hear it.
>
>Anybody experiencing a similar problem? Better yet, has anybody had
>that problem and found a solution?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jim