2002 Sport trac starting problems

[Darkhorse5.0]

My girlfriend purchased a 2002 sport trac recently w/ 43,000 miles 4.0 engine 4X4 etc......It had been wrecked and we just finished putting it all back together and getting it painted. It had a leaking injector when we first got it running so that was the first thing we had to fix so she could drive it. Now the only problem it is having is after it sits overnight its hard to start..like it cranks and cranks then it will finally start, once it does start you can turn it off and it will start back up instantly like there is no problem. Ive replaced the fuel pump already and that didnt help a thing so hopefully some of you guys have experienced this and can give me a hand.

 

[600remguy]

I'm no mechanic but it sounds to me like fuel pressure bleed off while sitting. Had the same problem with my C15 Caterpillar diesel engine. Turns out the pressure was bleeding off thru a porous filter housing. If you were in your fuel rail, I would start there.

 

[Darkhorse5.0]

Im going to check into that but you would think if it was coming from the rail the fuel would puddle up on the intake or something or @ least smell gas around the intake. I always hate the problems that arent so obvious.

 

[ncranchero]

The fuel is probably not leaking OUT, rather just losing it's pressure bleeding back into the tank through the fuel pump. The check valve in the pump is probably just stuck. If it's been sitting a while since it was wrecked it "may" cure itself after some regular operation. Run some fuel system cleaner in the tank.
Just sitting without occasionally cranking it (and addition of fuel stabilizer) really gums up the fuel pumps on these current vehicles with pump-in-tank systems. I had to replace several pumps after letting vehicles just sit ....... then I learned better.

 

[wojo07]

I had the same issue with my 2001. It turned out to be the fuel pump. make sure you or your girlfriend doesn't let the tank get below 1/4 full. That will cause a lot of problems with the pump by overheating it and drawing in all the crap that exists at the bottom of the tank.