Just wondering if anyone knows the reason this happened. Last weekend I parked my truck like I always do. Put it up into P and that was that. Came back out to the truck and went to start it. It turned over fine and maybe barely would start... like a split second and then die out. Tried restarting it and same thing... barely start and then die out. It was like it wasn't getting enough gas when it would try to start up. Eventually I tried taking it out of Park and putting in Neutral and then it started up totally fine. As if nothing was ever wrong. Drove home no problem. When I got home I put it in P and then attempted to start it and it started fine. Same with Neutral.

I'm assuming the truck might have thought I wasn't completely in Park when I tried to start it and it was not allowing it to fire up completely. I would have thought it wouldn't have let me do anything at all though rather than sort of start and die out. I guess the lesson is I need to make sure I really really get it back to Park when I turn it off and if I run into the problem again Neutral should save me. But does this sound right or strange to anyone that it behaved this way?

 

If it cranks the starter in PARK, there's nothing wrong with the detection of the shift lever position, the issue is something else.

Usually, your symptom will be caused by either inadequate fuel pressure or airflow. A sticky IAC valve is a common concern. If cracking the throttle slightly alleviates the concern, then that's a pretty good sign the IAC is the problem. If not, try cycling the ignition switch several times from OFF to RUN, cycle off, repeat several times, then hit START. If it now fires up regularly, that would indicate that the fuel pump isn't priming adequately during a typical start.

 

On on the failed attempts I did try pressing on the accelerator a little while starting it but it had no effect. Still did a attempt to start but quickly died out.

 

I'd be looking at the fuel pressure possibility then. A fuel pressure gauge would be an invaluable troubleshooting tool.

 

I would look into the possibility of it being the neutral safety switch. Typically when you can't start in P, but can in neutral your NSS is malfunctioning and needs replaced.

 

Impossible. Read the symptoms...

 

YEP... fuel pump was probably the problem.. Just a coincidence about the Neut- Park .

 

Yes my bad. He did say turn over and barely start. Had my wife in one ear and eyes on here. Needless to say I cant remember any of that conversation either. Thanks for the correction.