Truck wont start

[Brandons]

thanks, does the fuel pump get power when the trucks on run, even when its not on? because i know the pump starts up the second you turn it to run. Ill check the voltage for it, hopefully its just a loose wire.

 

[shadow]

99.9% SURE IT'S NOT YOUR PUMP IF IT'S BEEN REPLACED TWICE.

COULD BE A CLOGGED FILTER ( THAT YES, COULD HAVE BURNED OUT THE PUMP)

99.9% SURE IT IS THE RELAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED, GO TO THE FORD DEALER AND GET ONE. DO NOT GET ONE FROM AUTO ZONE. ELECTRONIC PARTS ARE NOT THE SAME, JUST TRUST ME, NOT MADE TO THE SAME STANDARDS.

WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE KEY TO THE RUN POSITION THE FEUL PUMP SHOULD RUN FOR 2 SECONDS AND THEN SHUT OFF. IF IT SOES NOT THEN YOU HAVE A POWER PROBLEM AND 9 TIMES OUT 10 IT IS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, IF THAT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM----

DROP FUEL TANK FAR ENOUGH TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A LOOSE CONNECTION ON THE FUEL PUMP, AND CHECK THE POWER ON THE WIRES TO THE PUMP WHILE YOU CAN ACCESS THEM. HAVE SOMEONE TURN THE KEY THO THE RUN POSITION AND CHECK THE WIRES WITH A TEST LIGHT. DO YOU HAVE POWER?

GOOD LUCK AND LET US KNOW

 

[Brandons]

Thanks, when the weather gets to a reasonable temperature, ill check it out, and i think its best if i get a new relay anyways, always good to be sure. Besides id rather not have a relay die out somewere else.

**Edit**
How do i tell really if its the fuel filter? It didnt act up all the time but only sometimes, and now of course its not "running" at all.

 

[shadow]

Brandons, does your fuel pump run for two seconds when you turn on the key?

also, when you remove the filter can you blow thru the filter? if not then it's clogged.

you can take the handle of a hammer and tap lightly on the fuel pump relay while you turn the key to the run position ( obviously this takes two people ) and just see if the pump runs at all. you should hear it sitting in the drivers seat while all is quiet and again it should run for 2 seconds and then shut off.

(not sure if you know what you are listening for)

anyway, put in a relay and let me know what happens

 

[Brandons]

it doesnt run for two seconds, or at all, could it be frozen, weve gotten -30C weather here.

 

[lonestar]

Originally posted by Brandons
Could i use another relay from the truck (like in the power distribution box) with the same numbers on it and switch it with the fuel one to see if it does anything? Or is that too risky or something...

Have you tried this yet? This is simple test that is often used to determine if the realy is bad, just swap relays and see if it works.

 

[Brandons]

already did the relay thing, but its becoming hard now to tell what it is. I checked two spark plugs on it and they were covered in gas, and since the fuel pump seems to not be working, i was very messed up by then. Also i could smell the gas out the tailpipe. It isnt an air intake problem either... so im completely lost now. Its going to a mechanic in about a week, and i dont really trust him but my parents do, so if i can fix it before then myself, that would be great.

 

[lonestar]

I had the same thing just happen to me yesterday. It started up an ran fine, then I got ready to take off and it died and wouldn't start. It wouldn't fire a lick, I assumed no spark, I could hear the pump and smell gas. We went out to eat, came home and it started right up, sputtered a few secs like it was flooded and haven't had a problem since.

I am guessing either crankshaft position sensor (CKP) or ignition module since I already replaced pump, filter, regulator, plugs and wires last fall. I have heard off the CKP being intermittant.

 

[Brandons]

yeah i have had the pump replaced 2 years ago, the plugs and wires just this past summer, and the filter i have, just need the tool to replace it. I can really smell gas out the exhaust, like its flooded, but why am i not hearing my fuel pump??

 

[Brandons]

also i think the ignition modual is fine, cause i am getting a spark, last thing is the CKP...

 

[Brandons]

A few weeks later....

Well its been a few weeks, and still no problem solved. I cant seem to figure it out, spark plugs work fine (at least the two) and the engines getting gas. Now ive decided to check out the catalytic converters, on the fact that i pulled the exhaust system from the cats back, which came out a little surprising.

Heres some pictures of the exhaust, mainly the muffler, i thought this is not normal for a muffler ive only had since june 2003, and put 10000km on it since.

I have no idea if this is normal, but i dont think it is, i discussed it with a friend already, and on a side note, i could burn my hand on the tailpipe in -20oC weather. The chrome tailpipe is also turning a more blue tint to it. These are signs of overheating, which supposidly can lead to the cats being plugged. However i doubt that this would stop it from starting, unless through the process, something more serious has been done.

 

[shadow]

it is a possibility that the cats are stopped up completely and could stop the vehicle from starting, allthough I really don't think that is the case as I have never seen it happen meaning my personal experience.

Yet it's possible. unbolt the exhaust before the cat and remove and try to start.

you have gas on the plugs
you have spark
you need air

check the air filter and inlet tube to be sure it is not stopped up with leaves or hair or cotton ar whatevera small animal could use to build a nest in the intake box.

I have seen this happen when I was a mechanic working at the dealer, a mustang came in with a no start condition and that is what it was.

again good luck and let me know

 

[Brandons]

Hmm, i know the air flows fine, on the account i literally unplugged it from the intake, though since no air would be flowing over the maf sensor, that probably could mess it up couldnt it... i never did check the filter, so i guess ill check that. I know now that exhaust can escape since my brother put his hand over the end of the cats and he could feel it, let alone after i try to start it, i can sometimes see gas fumes coming from it.

 

[Brandons]

Sucess, i finally got it to kick, for a while, the starting fluid worked finally worked. So now i need to think if the pump is dead, or frozen, or a loose connection...

 

[lonestar]

AHH, now were back to lack of fuel?

Check the simple things first.

1. emergency shut off
2. fuse/relay
3. filter (I would replace anyway)
4. fuel pressure
5. fuel pressure regulator (FPR)
6. fuel pump

I put pump last since it requires removal of the tank and the FPR is in the open. Remove some vacuum lines from the Intake manifold vacuume tree, or from the FPR itself and see if there is any fuel in them. You can also remove the return line with the ket on to see if any fuel is even flowing. If no feul flows throught the regulator, than the fuel pump output pressure is not high enough or filter is clogged.

Than look into injectors.....

 

[Brandons]

I know for sure theres like no pressure, pump isnt even turning on, so that pretty much takes two out, the fuse/relay are fine and the emergency shutoff is not triggered, only thing left is the actual pump or filter..

i have a new filter sitting around, and i really dont want to buy the damn tool, but ill have to get to that then

 

[lonestar]

You can get a set AC/FUEL line diconnect tools at Autozone for under $10. and it only take like 10 minutes to change.

 

[Brandons]

ill look into that, i want it replaced anyways. But im pretty sure when the pump is replaced the filter gets replaced too, if thats not the case ill just ask the mechanic to change it.

 

[lonestar]

Arent' you going try to replace th pump your self too. It's pretty easy. All you need is a ratchet and those disconnect tools.

$80 pump and about 2-3 hrs vs an $175 pump assembly a mechanic would use and about $100 labor.

So
$80 vs. $275

 

[Brandons]

I would at any second, parents truck for the next couple years, so there paying for it, and they want it done by a mechanic. But of course the differential leak on the 8ton cube van after they replaced the gasket didnt help, or the fact that everytime they fix the a/c it just breaks down again a few months later. My parents trust them, and i would rather go anywere else.