S10 randomly having starting problems? need help

[tonyscj5]

My 2001 chevy S10 4x4 ZR2 4x4 4.3 liter vortec, 85000miles, pick up is having a wiered issue. Randomly, no apparent pattern at all, is having problems. After driving, or sometimes when cold, no obvious pattern, will not start. It will sputter, obviously firing, with some combustion, but wont start. It sputters for a few seconds then dies. If I let it sit for 10 minutes and come back I can get it to start, but if I dont let it sit and just keep cranking the battery will run dead. The rest of the time, probably 9 out of 10 starts, it seems to start up and run fine? What is going on, the problem seems to be getting worse, and happening more and more often?

Please help, what is going on.

thanks
Tony

[worlocksmith]

three things come to mind, the first and most inexpensive can be ansered easily as well. If you have to press down on the gas pedal to start the truck, then it's the coolant temp. sensor. If this isn't the case it's probably a crank or cam position sensor, the easiest way to check is to back probe the wires at the computer and have a dvom waiting with you for when the problem happens. you should have a reference signal of about 5volts and a the return signal you'll have to look up in a chilton manual.