Hard Starting

[roberttretsch]

2002 Sport Trac grinds for 30 seconds to a full minute before starting. Thankfully battery is strong and continues to get the old girl started. Mechanic had no idea but wanted to start with a full tune-up to the tune of about 500. Another mechanic thought it might be fuel pump. Any thoughts. I saw a YouTube video on taking the gas tank out, to clean and replace fuel pump, but b4 I get into that looking for any advice. Thanx in advance.

 

[david4451]

If its starting eventually it is probably a split hose inside the fuel tank. Mine had exact same problem, but once started it ran fine. It will get worse if you do not replace the 2 short hoses from pump to dump valve and dump valve to out of tank. It's a days work, make sure your tank is low on fuel and becareful lowering tank, as connections to tank are short and need to be removed before tank is down to floor. Hope this helps.

 

[HELMUT RONER]

If yours was built on or after 03/04/2002 your problem is most definitely the fuel pump. It's a nearly all-plastic assembly around the pump itself. They are well known for letting the fuel pressure in the fuel line bleed back down into the fuel tank. When there's no pressure in the line the engine will crank, but not start, until there's sufficient pressure in the fuel rails.