1999 won't start

[RichSport94]

My buddy has a 1999 Sport SOHC and the problem is it won't start sometimes. The first time it didn't start we jumped it be I thought it was the battery even though it was 2 years old. That didn't work so we tried a new battery that didn't work. After a day of thinking we gave up and called the dealer to pick it up with a tow truck. The tow truck driver from ford came and said he would see if he can fix it. So he got in the truck and mashed the pedal down and turned the key and it magically started. I know in a fuel injected car you are not supposed to do that but it worked. Now my friend has to do that sometimes when he needs to start his truck. What the hell can that be. A fuel filter can be the culprit but it is hard to believe with a three year old car. Any ideas?

 

[aldive]

Did you scan for any trouble codes? If not, I would do that next.

Keep us posted and good luck.....

 

[FORDisKING]

Depending on the milage but probably not the root of the problem. Check fuel pump, alt., solenoid. Does the crank turn when started or nothing at all?

Jason

 

[TPLYNCH]

Probably the fuel pump relay under the hood. Tell you friend to listen for the fuel pump to whine before he turns all the way to start. If he doesn't hear it, the FP isn't running. Have him tap on the relay box while key is in ON position. If it's the relay connection, he should hear the FP kick in.

 

[RichSport94]

Truck cranks fine just has no fuel going into it and we checked the fuel relay and it was fine, he brought it in to the dealer today and realized he has two weeks left on his warranty, lucky it took it in when he did. The replaced the idle control something, I wasn't paying attention because I was too busy being a smarta$$ to the salesmen that were there. Could you believe one of them said to my friend that if he is having so much problems with it he should trade it in! All I got to say it was fun ripping on them and telling them off.