I bought a 91 2.8 Trooper about 6 weeks ago and haven't driven it much. Usually it starts right up...except for two times. Both times I have driven 2 miles to the grocery store, turned it off and after 10 minutes when I attempted to start it, couldn't. It turns over but fails to fire. The first time this happened I pumped the accelerator and after about 10 seconds it started. The last time no such luck, I finally ran the battery down. I walked home and returned with another vehicle and jumper cables and when I returned, it started first time (with jumper cables).
It has an electrical problem with the gas and temp gauge, sometimes they work, sometimes not. I am thinking a loose ground.
My starting problem, I am thinking, may be a lack of fuel, possibly a clogged fuel filter. I plan to replace it at my first convience.
Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Bruce

I think that you are on the right path with the starting issue. Since the 2.8 has a TBI (Throttle Body Injector) system, there should normally be nothing gained by pumping the throttle.

You might try doing a search. There have been a few posts lately about the same thing or close to it. Seems like they always have to do with the fuel system. Good luck.

I had a similar problem , read all the past posts , but no one actualy posted the final fix on it.I tested my fuel pump , works fine , hazards work , connections look ok , but gonna take them apart and put in some dielectic grease and make sure they are nice and clean and tight.Took the air filter off , looked at my jets , they were a little gummy so sprayed a whole bunch of cleaner in there , and I put in a new air filter.Drove around to a couple of spots today , and fired right up when it was warm.Last night I drove home , about 5 minutes , not even far enough to get the temp up , ran in the house for about 15 minutes , then decided I was gonna pick up some food.Went to start it , and nothing , drained the battery trying.Fired right up in the morning as usual and drives just fine until its warm and I shut it off and try to restart it.For me , I was lucky and just needed the air filter and spray cleaner in my TB.
Hope this helps you out a little.

Thanks for the responses! I bought a fuel filter and fi/carb cleaner today. When I get some time I'll change the filter and clean the tb. I like the suggestion about using dielectric grease. I'll do that also.
I'll post when I am finished.

I have also had this problem and I read in the owners manual to hold down the gas pedal and try to start it. Each time this works, but I thought that it was strange since it is a TBI. I guess I'll have to look into the fuel filter as well.

When it has happened to me it seems to always be when I stopped and shut off the engine for like two minutes and then tried to restart (even if I had already driven for 45min).

George, The two times mine didn't start I had turned it off for about 10 minutes, long enough for me to go into the grocery store and check out. Other times when I had turned it off for 1/2 hour or more it started ok.

Sounds about right. One of the times it happened to me I parked, walked into the store and came back out within 5-10 minutes. I tried starting it and it did not fire up until I held down the gas pedal.

I THINK that holding the gas pedal down will lean-out the fuel mixture upon start-up. If that is correct, then you may have fuel leaking into the combustion chamber after shut-down. Perhaps one of your fuel injectors is leaking. I don't really know, I was just trying to give you guys something to think about. Hope it helps.

I suppose that another possibility is that there is an issue with your throttle position sensor. Pushing the throttle to the floor "should" result in a WOT (wide open throttle) signal which would cause the ECM to send more fuel.