This summer I moved from 3,000ft. in the calif sierra to 7,000ft. in Wyoming. Sorry ,this is a '93 Ranger with the large 6 cyl. The truck will climb up the side of a tree, when there is more than a foot of snow my brother will leave his '04 dodge 4x4 and take my truck to work. It won't start if it is under 25 degF. I am hip to the effects of cold weather on a motor, it is not an oil,anti-freeze,or battery problem, It cranks like Ted Nugent,it is a combustion problem. It is like my old 68 chevy with a bad fuel filter. I have to pump the pedal and it starts on the third try,and I have to race the engine to keep it going which breaks my heart. I have used all of the fuel additives,tried different brands of gas to no effect. There has to be a bad valve or sensor somewhere. Thanks for any suggestions. Greg

ps; this is not Car Talk so don't tell me to move to Miami

 

Could possibly be 2 or 3 problems here. First, I'd take a look at the IAC valve. They can get stuck closed and suffocate the engine. When you hold your foot down 1/4 throttle, will it start right up? If so, it is probably IAC. If it doesn't, you could have a fuel pressure problem making the fuel pump rebuild pressure on the first start of day, accounting for the long crank. If you have access to a fuel pressure gauge, hook it up after the trucks shut down for night. Write down the pressure it has. Leave the gauge on it overnight and check again in the AM. If pressure is more than 10psi lower, then either the regulator or fuel pump is causing trouble. Most often it's the pump in my experience.

(It cranks like Ted Nugent,it is a combustion problem. It is like my old 68 chevy with a bad fuel filter.) : Fuel pump taking time to rebuild pressure? Could be pressure regulator on return-type fuel system or the valve in the fuel pump not holding pressure.

(I have to race the engine to keep it going which breaks my heart.) : IAC motor supplies metered air to hold an idle under different loads(AC, PS, Alternator, etc). You stepping on the pedal is giving it air (not gas) through the throttle plate. If IAC is stuck closed, it's not metering air and not holding your idle.

(This summer I moved from 3,000ft. in the calif sierra to 7,000ft. in Wyoming.) : You may want to try disconnecting the battery to reset the pcm fuel strategies and take a look at MAF. There is less available oxygen at higher altitudes so the computer compensates for it by supplying less fuel to keep the correct A/F ratio. If the MAF sensor is bad, it's incorrectly assuming barometric pressure, not reading the correct amount of air coming through the intake and therefor isn't supplying the right amount of fuel. Try disconnecting the MAF sensor and starting. What this does is cause the check engine light to come on, and also forces the computer to refer to it's built in fuel tables. If it does better, you may want to put a MAF sensor in it. MAF sensor however is probably least likely to be your problem because it seems by your description that it runs ok once warmed up.

Good luck.