I have been having a starting problem for quite a while. About 6 months or so I went to a store for about an hour. When I tried to start the truck it cranked, but the ignition fluttered, like it was flooded. I figured it was a problem with the sensor and left it alone for about 30 minutes. I tried again and it started right up. A couple of months later the same thing happened. I drove it for about 3 hours for a long weekend and came back after about 20 minutes and got the same fluttering but no catching. Last week I tried to start it after work and it cranked but no catch at all. It seemed to crank a little slower than normal. I came back out after 20 minutes and tried it again, same result. A friend standing nearby suggested I give it some gas. I was reluctant but gave it a try. It started. Yesterday I drove to a work location about 40 miles from home and it did not start at the end of the day. It seemed to crank at the normal rate but did not start. I had some friends nearby so I took advantage of the ride home. I returned in the morning and it started right up. The symptoms are so different I can't be sure they are related, the first sounds like the truck is flooded, the other is no gas or spark.

 

Not much positive to point to.
Some guessing, it might be the IAC not opeing up for cold starting if giving some throttle allowed starting. The IAC would have been stuck closed when the motor cooled from last use.
Adding throttle only gives air not very much extra fuel.
Try cleaning the IAC first.
Clean the battery cables and posts to be sure there is not an an issue developing their causing slower cranking.
The crank position sensor is located behind the crank pully at about 11 o'clock. Check the plug seating on the sensor.
Good luck..

 

I decided to spring for a scanner. I saw OBDCOM has a scanner for under $90, read some positive reviews on the company. Maybe I can catch a code that will help. I figure a dealer will charge more than that to talk to me.

I'm going to check out the battery, make sure nothing is a problem there. I'll try cleaning the IAC, not sure if I'm up to that. I'll try to find some more info about doing that. I've not done much more than change oil and brakes since they stopped using points and rotors.

 

I had the battery tested under a load and the CCA was pretty low. I put in a new battery. It seems to be cranking faster now. I'm guessing the battery had enough to turn the starter but insufficient amps to power the rest. It is odd that when it wouldn't start I was able to crank for 10 seconds or so with no degradation. I'll be cautiously optimistic and see what happens. Thanks for your reply!

 

For reference I wanted to note one other oddity. Some time ago, as soon as the truck started, the gauges all swung all the way to the right, back all the way to the left, then settled in the normal position, tach at idle. Since I didn't realize I had a battery problem I didn't know what was causing this. With the new battery this has stopped happening.