Okay well if it only starts well about 30% of the time in the morning, what I just told you may be irrelevant. .

 

Change your fuel filter

 

Bare with me here but, where is the fuel filter located?

 

Bare with me here but, where is the fuel filter located?

 

Passenger side frame rail. Tucked behind the torsion bar. Its a lot of fun

 

Okay. Thanks. Gotta learn somehow! Haha

 

This sounds like a bad check valve in the fuel pump. As Co_94_PU says, the fuel pump does not run until the key is turned to START. Ordinarily, the check valve in the fuel pump holds pressure in the rail, so it's right there the next time you want to start. If the check valve fails, the pressure leaks back into the tank, and the pump has to run for a few seconds to bring the pressure up far enough to start.

The positive diagnosis is to install a fuel pressure gauge and watch it when you shut down, and start up. Replacing the fuel pump (the check valve is not available separately) is a bit of work, and I'd want to be sure this diagnosis was correct before I did that.

By the way, if the truck runs well once it starts, it's probably not the fuel filter. It's probably a good idea to replace it in a 12-yr old truck, but it is no picnic to change.