Hi-

Long time lurker, first time poster, so glad to have this kind of resource.

Anywho, I have a 1997 f-150, V-6 absolutely base model, a shade under 80,000 miles. I'm the second owner, and the truck was previously garaged most of the time but now sits out in the driveway. The truck has developed an issue where it will be increasingly hard to start (crank crank crank, intermittent cough) after it sits out in hot weather, which is a problem here in Southern California. When the problem is really bad, it can take all day to get it started (try, wait a bit, try again, etc.). When it does finally catch, it sometimes backfires, idles rough for a few seconds then runs like a champ. I can turn it off and restart it immediately, I can let it sit for an hour or three and restart it, but if it sits out in hot weather it gets increasingly hard to start.

I've scoured various forums, and I've tried every solution I can find. Cycling the key to get fuel in the rail, opening the hood to cool off the engine cavity, trying to start it before it gets hot outside, etc. The truck *is* throwing code p0443, and scouring other forums I think that's either the evap canister purge valve, which my last mechanic replaced, or possibly the charcoal canister, which has not been replaced, but I don't know if that could be contributing (the truck was throwing that code before the hard start developed).

I'm open to any and all suggestions that folks may have, cuz god damn I'm about at wits' end.

Thanks in advance,
-austin

 

The 443 code is a circuit issue not necessarily the canister.
It is possible sometimes to draw raw gas from the canister line to cause flooding.
Before you crank the motor after setting so long measure the fuel pressure to be sure it's either up where it should or not to high.
The motor could become flooded and cause hard starting if the fuel regulator were leaking fuel past the regulator diaphragm.
Check that by looking at the vacuum hose for signs of fuel .
Also look at a plug for being fuel fouled.
It really sounds like a flooding issue.
Good luck.

 

Hold the skinny pedal to the floor and see if it starts easier

 

You can try by leaving a fuel pressure gauge on it and see if it's bleeding off. If you think flooding is a problem hold the pedal to the floor. That should clear it.

 

definitely get your hands on a fuel pressure gauge, can tell you a lot of things, buy one or loaner at auto zone or other, and test pressure at key on, idle, and drive it wot, when it starts, and check all your vehicles while you have it,,, good luck