My 97 starts very hard (you have to crank the heck out of it to start) and when I finally get it started it will not idle.
The truck will idle for about 15 seconds and then start to stall. It will then pick back up for around 15 seconds and then begin to stall again. It keeps on repeating this pattern.
I have cleaned the fuel screen and changed the fuel filter.


Has anyone experienced this before?
The combination of hard starting and inability to maintain an idle leads me to guess its the lift pump. Does this sound like a bad lift pump or more like a bad overflow valve or something else?
Any advice is appreciated.

Where is a good place to buy a fuel pressure guage?

Thanks

 

It could be either the o/f valve or the lift pump, only way to know is with a fuel pressure gauge. Getting a gauge isn't the hard part, a 60lb water pressure gauge for under $10 will work just fine.
Harder part is hooking it up, you either have to remove the injection pump inlet banjo bolt and drill and tap a 1/8" port in it or buy an adaptor here to hook it up
http://www.tstproducts.com/index.asp...PROD&ProdID=62

It might be easier/cheaper to just replace the o/f valve and see if it changes anything

Best deal here
Precision Diesel Injection and Turbo Inc.
Marty Tompkins
888-734-7349
$30 + $7 shipping and handling.

 

May just as well try the overflow first and see where that gets ya.

These pumps are to reliable to have a permenant fuel pressure gauge, IMO. I'd just get a cheap test one rather than a "real" gauge.

 

I agree with all of the above. Another thing to consider is what is your idle set at?

Other possibilities are filter and prescreen, fuel lines (or fuel system losing prime due to a leak).

A fuel system "going over" would be a good idea. Is this truck new to you?, any history or maintenence records etc? Give us more info. Kevin