I've got a 95 nissan truck that I bought to fix up and sell. It's got
a starting problem. It will only start by using starting fluid. Once
it's running, it runs great. The mech that did the engine work claimed
that once it was warm, it started up just fine w/o starting fluid.
Because of that, he thought it was the 'cold start injector'. However,
i've driven it and let it get hot, and it still won't start w/o fluid.
i can take it back to him, i would just like to try and fix it myself.
I'll pay the person that posts the fix after I do what they say and it
runs.

You might save a lot of time by having this checked by the dealership.
They could run the computerized checkup and probably pinpoint the
problem(s). Dealing with fuel injection and computerized electronics
is guesswork at best for the home mechanic, myself included. ...bill
in corvallis

frist thing you need to try is see if you are getting the correct fuel
pressure when you turn the key on. second is you need to make sure
your coolant temp sensor is working properly. if it is bad which i
have seen before then your truck will have a hard time strating only
in the morning or when cold.

now that I have been thinking about for half a day. Do you have a 4
cylinder or 6. If you have a 4 cylinder then you may have a problem
with the EGR system or you may have a problem with the AAC vlave. Let
me know and I will try to talk with you about how to proceed. unlesss
you fixed it already.

6 Cyl. I don't think it's a fuel pressure problem, as it runs very
strong once started.

does the truck seem to start right up if you drive it for a while and
then try to resart it when it is still hot. like being off for 5 or 10
minutes? You might have a check ball in the fuel pump which is not
keep pressure on the fuel ine and if the fuel runs right back into the
tank when you shut off the engine then you will get vapor lock in the
fuel lines and it will be hard to start becasue the next time you
energize the fuel pump it will send fuel but it will not be able to
get through until your relase the fuel vapor and that is hard to do
sometimes. I am not saying that this is defintely your problem but you
should start somewhere. Make sure you do not have any vaccum leaks.

no matter how long I let it run or how hot it gets, it won't re-start
w/o starter fluid. Even a very tiny blast gets it to start right up
and run strong.

where are you spraying the starting fluid? try this go to your fuel
return line and clamp it off and see if it starts up after a few
cranks.

Drum roll please..... Ladies and Gentlemen...  WE HAVE A WINNER!!!! 
it took some cranks, but then it finally turned over and ran!!!!
Yahoo.  So, what does that mean?

It could mean a few things. frist do you have a fuel gauge? second. we
need to find out if the fuel pump is working at 100%. either you have
a major vaccum leak which by increasing fuel pressure you got the
engine to run. you did this by blocking the fuel return line which
will boost you fuel pressure up. Or you have a fuel pump going bad or
a fuel pressure regulator going bad. There is a slight chnace you have
a clogged fuel filter but I have never seen that cause this type of
problem but it could. How old is the fuel filter and is it an
aftermarket one.

Fuel filter is aftermarket, and new. Fuel pump is old, and sounds a
little funky. Change that out?

No fuel pressure guage.

I feel good just tell you to go and replace the fuel pump when it
might be something else. best guess would be the fuel pump but without
me being able to see it and test a few more things I can not be sure.
you see another thing is if you increase the fuel pressure and your
injectors are clogged a litlle that could help start the engine. I
would bet that it is probale the fuel pump or the fuel regulator(which
is located on the end of the fuel rail).

i meant i dont feel good about tell you to replace the fuel pump

Fixed!! It fired right up. Excellent! Mark that as your answer and
I'll release the payment for you. Thanks!!!!

I need to know  did you put a fuel pump in it? I want to make sure the
truck is fixed.