Have a 1994 F-150 with 4.9 L straight six. When engine is cold upon first turn of key it will crank a long while, sputter, wheeze and either start or not. Upon second turn of the key it starts almost immediately and runs fine. After starting it will restart with no trouble at all. I changed plugs and ran fuel injector cleaner through it. Is there anything else that I can check or adjust before the trip to the diagnostic shop to be seperated from my hard earned cash? It sounds like a fuel mixture problem but its not like you can just adjust the choke in these.

 

First thing I'd check would be for slow build-up of fuel pressure, usually caused by either a restricted/clogged fuel filter or a weak fuel pump.

Try cycling the key to RUN without hitting START for two seconds, switch off. repeat several times, then hit the STARTer.

Steve

 

x2 with checking the fuel filter and pump, maybe both are going bad

 

The rear fuel tank pump is brand new. I can switch to that tank and try starting it. I usually run off the front tank. Do you think a slightly funky fuel pressure regulator could be the problem?? I have noticed in the past that when the truck is started on the rear tank it tends to run a bit too rich for a few seconds which makes no sense unless the rear pump is stronger and the pressure regulator is going wierd.