Cold starts, dies then hard to start?

[mptroyer]

My 1996 2500 Fires first time Every time. Until last week. Still starts fast, idles for 30 seconds and dies. Then have to crank for 30-45 seconds for it to kick in again and start, then runs like a top again. Once that takes place she runs like a top all day. Can let it sit for 4-6 hours during the day and boom starts and runs great. Let it sit over night 8 - 10 hours and Starts, stops, cranks to restart and runs great, Winter is comming and I don't know what causes this. HELP.

[mptroyer]

To whomever? I asked a question in good faith to get some help. I got nothing? It looks like 26 people read the question and no one replied.. I asked on another forum and got 6 responses(non were right but at least some people tired).
The Answer is a Overflow Valve and a shut off Solinoid. The Valve did the Trick but the local Pump Repair company thought the solinoid was weak as well..

[clc]

While it is a shame that you did not get an answer here, had you read other threads on this forum (the search function is wonderful if you know for what you are searching) you might have known to look at the overflow valve and perhaps for an air leak between the lift pump and the tank (like at the strainer/preheater).

I have never heard of a shutoff solenoid being "weak". A solenoid is just an electromagnet with a moveable slug. In this case the electromagnet has two coils. The coils are either good or bad. The circuits that energize them can fail or the plunger (slug) can get dirty and stick in the bore. The rubber boot on one of mine got soft and gummy with age. It stuck to the plunger and jammed in the bore so that the pull coil was not strong enough to do its job. I removed the boot and cleaned the solenoid. It has worked well since. For what it is worth, the shop you went to may have seen an opportunity to sell you something you did not need. I hope you kept the old solenoid. From the symptoms you gave both the pull and the hold coils and energizing circuits were working well.

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96 3500 4WD, 47RE, gauges; 97 3500 4WD 47RE, gauges; 97 3500 2WD 5-spd; all club cab. 98.5 2500 2WD SB, 5-spd, gauges, quad cab