My new truck

[redbird.farm.7]

Hi, I'm new here. I just bought an '87 Chev 3500 dump and looking for info on repairs and trouble shooting. It's in real good condition with 70K mi. I'm trying to figure out why the cranking time is so long. It has fuel injection and a 350 engine.

[VileZambonie]

Check the basics first ie tune up items and check fuel pressure. If you bypass the fuel pump relay and energize the pump at the pigtail does it start immediately?

[zieg85]

Welcome from NW Indiana

[bake74]

     Welcome from California.  Vile knows what he is talking about.

[dvdswan]

welcome from the PNW.

[Dan75k20]

Welcome from Pittsburgh

[Tazman]

Welcome from AZ.

[DuckAholic1]

Check the basics first ie tune up items and check fuel pressure. If you bypass the fuel pump relay and energize the pump at the pigtail does it start immediately?

I have the same problem w/my 87. Vile, I was wandering if you can give some diirection on how to do this.(feul pump bypass/pressure) I just did a tune up ( plugs wires cap rotor pcv air filter etc.) Sure would like to know why it still has such a long crank time!!

[Irish_Alley]

do you hear the fuel pump prime when you first turn the key on?

[DuckAholic1]

No, not really!! I here a sort of click sound approx. 1-2 seconds after I turn key.

[Irish_Alley]

now this is kind of a theory im working on and kind of like vile was saying but if your relay is bad you can still start the truck (best thing is to bypass it like he said). just you have to build up oil pressure, this is why it takes so long to start.  the oil pressure switch will act like a fail safe to the relay. meaning if your driving and the relay craps out your truck wont die unless your oil pressure switch is also bad. this will allow you make it home most time you wont notice till you try to start the truck again and it would take longer than normal time to start it.

[Irish_Alley]

any update?