2000 Sierra occasional hard starter
 

Just picked up a immaculate2000 GMC Sierra SLE off a lot this week. Everything on this thing seems to be fantastic with the exception of one thing. A random hard start. Most of the time all I have to do is bump the ignition and it will fire right up. Every once in a while it will take quite a few turnovers before it starts. Seems to run rough for a few seconds, then smooths right out and runs great.
In my vehicle experience I understand that this could be dozens of things. Possibly fuel pump, fuel filter, possibly plugs or fuel injectors.
Can anybody narrow this down for me at all? Thanks a lot.

What size motor?

2000 GMC SIERRA K1500
3 DOOR EXTENDED CAB PICKUP
4.8L V8 MPI
4 WHEEL DRIVE

The car fax lists this as mechanical failures on this particular truck as:


"Occasional problems on this vehicle are failures of the Fuel Injectors (4.3L VIN W only), the Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor (4.3L VIN W only), the Evaporative (EVAP) Vent Hose Assembly. the Fuel Pressure Regulator (4.8L VIN V and 5.3L VIN T engines only), and the Fuel Pump (4.8L VIN V and 5.3L VIN T engines only). The cost to clean the Fuel Injectors is $39.95 for parts and $97.50 for labor. The cost to replace the CKP Sensor is $89.03 for parts and $32.50 for labor. The cost to replace the EVAP Vent Hose Assembly is $178.00 for parts and $39.00 for labor. The cost to replace the Fuel Pressure Regulator is $91.59 for parts and $39.00 for labor. The cost to replace the Fuel Pump is $401.13 for parts and $312.00 for labor. All prices are estimates based on $65.00 per flat rate hour and do not include diagnostic time or any applicable sales tax."

One thing I have noticed, and it may be a fluke, but the first thing in the morning it fires right up. Mostly throughout the rest of the day it hard cranks here and there.

mine will do a "hard start" first thing in the morning every once in a while... i wonder about it too but it's never giving me any issues... crossin my fingers!

Mine starts real good in the morning. I do not want it to give me any issues in the future, as I can get it fixed free now. I just need to get it figured out now.

about one month ago, my 1999 4.3L started acting the same way
rapid start 1st thing in the morning, then hard starts later in the day.
rapid starts = catches on about first revolution.
hard starts = turns over a couple times or more (usually more) before starting.

My son was having a similar problem with his Dodge. His fuel pressure checked out good and I replaced the fuel filter as well. But he still had the problem. It ended up being his fuel pump relay. Just another possibility maybe.

Another possibility is the fuel pressure relief valve. It might be stuck in the open position occassionally.

Well, since the dealer held up to his end of our contract deal he had the problem repaired.
When I asked him what the mechanic did, he said "I knew I should have written that down." "He said there was a part replaced that was flooding the motor, and one of the plugs was gapped wrong" B.S. line? I do not know. He covered the bill and it does not do it now. Thank you for your help and I will keep an eye on the end results.

I have the exact same problem with my 2003 2500 HD with 6.0L. Can you check car fax for this one?