Alright, I've been ingoring this hard start issue on my 97 LT for far too long due to lack of time/money. Well school is over, its cold out, and starter fluid is getting old so its time. My symptoms are as follows, engine turns over but wont fire when below 0 C (32F). If i use starter fluid it starts right up and runs well, except for bogging at passing speeds. The CEL light has never come on and the truck has never stalled and doesnt idle too rough. I went and got a fuel pressure tester, and it only puts out 36 PSI by priming the pump, cycling the 2 second cycle a few times. When its running its between 52 and 54 PSI, and if I floor it it jumps to about 60 PSI for a second then drops back to 52-54. The pressure only dropped 3 PSI after sitting for 15 minutes(From the 52 to about 49). Does this seem like a FPR problem? Filter was changed a couple months ago. There is not an overpowering smell of raw fuel from the TB.

 

Based on the pressure reading and lack of pressure drop, I would think it is the pump rather than the FPR. Have you read through this thread?

 

I had the same issue. I replaced both at the same time. I found a FPR on ebay brand new for like 36 bucks shipped. Trucks ran great till i popped a valve

 

Yeah I read the thread, but its -22 here right now so crawling under the truck and disconnecting the fuel line, somehow connecting the pressure guage and reading it didn't seem to appealing. The reasonI figure it was the FPR is because the pump can consistently make the 52 PSI when running but, with the engine off and it priming I'm only getting 36 PSI, so the FPR is sending too much fuel back.

 

After you turn the key from the 'on' position to 'off', if there is a pressure drop greater than ~3psi in the first minute, and it continues to drop over the next several minutes, that is the FPR. If the pressure with the key in the 'on' position is less than ~52psi, that points to the pump. Please note that I am saying with the key in the 'on' position, not 'run'.