why is it hard starting?

2000 CHEVROLET EXPRESS
112,000 MILES
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KOHLLINK
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2000 chevy express 3500 hard starting. Truck sat for months. Truck strated right up . Put gas and sea foam in the tank now it takes a shot of ether to get the truck to start. Bad fuel regulator?could it be a bad coolant sensor?

when we started the truck the thermostat seemed to stick turned the heat on to fix the stick. trucks temp is fine now. truck runs fine.Just needs a shot of ether to start. I know that I should test the fuel pressure to get more details.the fuel pump is new.
Dec 27, 2011 at 7:08 PM
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FACTORYJACK
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Is this gas or diesel?
Dec 27, 2011 at 7:46 PM
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KOHLLINK
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Gas
Dec 27, 2011 at 8:09 PM
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FACTORYJACK
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Will it eventually start upon cranking, without the use of starter fluid? Ideally, as you suspected, a fuel pressure reading at key on would be recommended. Once verified that it has proper pressure(about 45 psi key on), then you could look at fuel quality as a possible issue. At over 100k, has the spark plugs been checked. If they are original, that is another possibility to consider.
Dec 27, 2011 at 11:17 PM
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KOHLLINK
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eventually it does start without the ether.
Dec 28, 2011 at 12:35 AM
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FACTORYJACK
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Sounds like the pressure is slow to build in the rail. This could be result of leaking past the regulator into the return, or the regulator diaphragm into the vacuum system.
Dec 28, 2011 at 1:05 AM
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KOHLLINK
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I thank you for all your help I know what to do now.
Dec 28, 2011 at 2:24 AM