98 V8 5.4 CEL light on for a month or so, manual said not serious. Now it is- engine dies when starting.

Cant get it to run long enough to get to autozone to have the code checked, so I cant tell exactly what is wrong. Never had any problems with idling or backfire, etc, truck been running great.

Any ideas/suggestions? Im thinking, after reading some of the posts its the IAC valve, of which I have no idea what that is...

Any help is appreciated.

 

Not trying to get your goat but you let it go to long and it let you down.
Until you get a code/s you have no idea what to do.
Now it's tow time or find someone with a code reader. Then you still have to repair.

 

OK, made it to Autozone. As I was driving, the engine warmed up and the "dying"...well..died. it quit dying. Autozone's computer said code P0401 and that computed to EGR not working. Not knowing ANYTHING abut engines, Im inclined to hire a friend to come fix it. Is replacing this difficult?

 

You have a private answer as requested.

 

It is extremely unlikely that the P0401 is causing the engine to not run.

Do NOT replace any EGR components at this time, they are not your immediate problem.

Focus on:

AIR - IAC valve possibly
FUEL - Check your fuel pressure should be 30-45 psi.
SPARK - Check for spark (properly timed).

Once the major fault that is preventing engine operation is corrected, then go back to the P0401. You will likely find either clogged EGR passages or a defective DPFE sensor (or both) as these faults cover the vast majority of P0401 codes.

Steve