So, there are certainly other problems. Are you sure you are not touching the gas pedal AT ALL? That will cause severe wear, and make it very difficult to start. Like so many people on Yahoo! Answers, you FAIL to state the YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, or ENGINE of the vehicle in question, which unsurprisingly is important information for anyone to hazard a guess as to the issue(s). You also seem a bit confused - you "turn the motor over till it cranks"??? Um, those are the SAME THING.
Your truck has a failing fuel pump or pulsator (between the pump and outlet spout inside the tank)
Your neighbor is half right, don't try and start it and then try again, instead, turn the key to the "run" position for 3 seconds, turn it off, wait 5 seconds and then start the engine as you would normally.
This first step allows the pump to prime the fuel line up to the injectors. You don't normally have to do this if the pump is good but the Vortec systems require a lot of pressure and failing pumps cause this kind of problem.
I have questions of my own. Age and miles on the vehicle, maintenance status, size of motor, etc. I also question the time frame. People are notorious for measuring time incorrectly. Unless you use a stop watch I would say you are guessing. Next, what is a 16 year doing driving a truck for? Business? These vehicle seem popular with kids with no money which is puzzling to me since trucks use a ton of gasoline. I also suspect this is an older vehicle and may not only have lots of miles but perhaps a tire battery. Not enough information. As to what the ignorant neighbor said. His opinion. Not exactly correct.
find some starting fluid and spray a bit into the intake. if the car starts without any problems, you have a damaged fuel pump. I had the same problem that progressively got worse until the car only started with starting fluid and would barely sputter along.
I had the problem on a 2002 Chevy Blazer 4.3 Vortec (same engine as yours).
The fuel pump replacement cost me $650. however I wasn't able to shop around for a good price since I was forced into going to the nearest mechanic.
do what you're doing is fine. But it should start sooner than 5 sec of cranking. It should be able to start in 1-2 sec. Most vehicles.
Sounds to me like your neighbor is a "know it all, yet actually knows nothing."
The start/stop start/stop was mostly just for older vehicles with carbs that you had to pump the gas and operate the choke. with newer vehicles, it doesn't matter.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW HOW TO START YOUR VEHICLE TO ME.
THE MOST WEAR ON AN ELECTRIC MOTOR IS THE INITIAL START.
ONLY USE A STARTER MOTOR AS MUCH AS NECESSARY
So what's the question?
Your neighbors an idiot, period
WE ARE ALL EARS!
