help diagnose this problem por favor

I've seen people post similar experiences on here but can't seem to pull up the right threads.

This morning I try and start my 95.5, manual tranny, 2.4 liter, DLX exra cab Taco and it wouldn't start. It turned over and the battery seemed fine. It just would crank without firing up. After several tries it finally started. I think that's unusual and let it warm up for a minute.

I leave the side streets and as I pull onto the main road, shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear, she starts to convulse on me. O shit I think to myself. She dies on me. I try restarting it repeatedly. I try starting it maybe 6 times before she fires up. I plan on turning around and going back home. I manage to U turn and then boom, same problem when I shift from 1st gear to 2nd gear: she convulses and dies. I try to start her up again for a good 10 mins. She starts eventually, and I drive back home in 1st gear the entire way.

The problem seems to be when I accelerate in 2nd gear. 1st gear is fine, the up shift to 2nd is fine. But as soon as I hit a certain acceleration/RPM point in 2nd gear she just bucks and turns off.

What could this problem be?

This place has helped me out with a lot of information in the past. Much appreciated!

 

Far more smarter people than I will chime in but to me it sounds like a fuel delivery problem.

How many miles on the truck? Have you ever changed the fuel filter?

 

Interesting, not sure about the shifting problem but the starting issue might be due to your starter. Could be a combination of starter and fuel delivery like Madjik_Man said

 

It's at 177k miles. I've had it for a year now. Not sure if it's ever had the fuel filter changed.

 

I replaced the starter less than 6 months ago.

edit- here's what work I've had done in the year I've had her: starter, new AC compressor, rear drum brakes, replaced an axle shaft, wheels and tires. I've sunk some money into her with the expectation of making it to at least 200k miles.

 

Even if it's not the cause of this problem, I would definitely change it then. It's super easy and fairly inexpensive.

You can pick up a nice Wix filter for around $20

 

I'd probably rule out the starter..... it seems to be doing it's job.

 

Yea, I wanna say it probably isn't your starter now that I think about it more. Replace the filter first, go from there.

Also, from experience, my dad's '97 F350 had 2 faulty starters that were replaced within a year under warranty. And yes we know how to start it properly; it just didn't work one day which was really odd since the first time the original starter was going it would fire on the 2nd or 3rd try, and kept getting worse and worse. It would fire like brand new, and then poof, went to crap. If it is the starter, it basically won't do anything when you turn the key to start it it, just a buzz from personal experience

 

My first thought is fuel filter also. Did you try skipping second and going straight to third? Any check engine light?

 

^I didn't try that. I'm going to go ahead with the fuel filter change and hope that's all she needs.