97 DAKOTA; HARD STARTING

97 Dakota, V6, stick. Just purchased this, knew there is/was a hard starting issue when I bought it, truck had sat awhile before I bought it, so I figured that was the contributing factor. Likes to crank, not a horribly long time, but kinda like when your old carb would load up the motor. Always starts though. Starts the same, whether it's overnight or 1 hour later.

Mimics being flooded, but I don't see black smoke when it starts. Doesn't really run rough other than just after it starts. Just threw a code yesterday. It shows "12".

Doesn't seem to be really using more gas than it has since I bought it, checked the mileage when I bought it, it got 24mpg's my first tank. Doesn't misfire at all under load.

O2 sensor? TPS?

code 12 just means the circuit works. it could be a weak fuel pump, plugged fuel filter, or a weak pressure regulator. I'm not an A-1 mechanic, but just throwing out some things I've come across.

girlfriends 94 dakota had same problem..

weak fuel pump...

It is 12 years old and the original pump.

I'll dig into that soon, but I'll change the filter first.

But, the "check engine" light came on this week. Would either of them make it "code"?

Also, is the pressure regulator seperate from the pump?

Autozone here runs the codes for free.

My 97 said Front OX Sensor. Put a new one on, ran like a champ. Also had the CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR go out twice.

Autozone got no codes, and also informed me the 97's had no external fuel filter, is this so?

Very common on newer dodge trucks. *(no fuel filt except in tank)

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Very common on newer dodge trucks. *(no fuel filt except in tank)

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Just wondering. Actually, the truck's been starting/running better having been used more.