Crank, No Start

[travis baldwin]

Yall have helped me so many times before, so I would like to ask for your help again.



2003 XLT 2WD 4.0 175,000miles



As I was leaving work Wednesday my truck would crank, but not start. Having installed $1500 in parts 2 weeks prior, it hurt. Bad.



After a cap full of Seafoam in the Intake, it fired right up. Gas tank was empty, so I took it straight to the gas station and filled her full. Got home, turned her off and then fired right back up. Did this 3 or 4 times, and it fired up every time. I figured it wouldn't start because it was running on fumes and by putting gas in it, ultimately, would fix the issue. Nope. Go to leave for work the following morning and it will crank, but not start. Again, 1 cap full of Seafoam in the Intake and it fired right up.



Did a good amount of research to try and diagnose the problem next time it occurs. So come this morning, same problem. Crank, but no start. So I tried one of the tricks I read about (probably on here) and I turn the ignition to "On" for 10 seconds, back to "Off" and then back to "On" for another 10 seconds. I did this 3X and then started it up fine. Engine had a little hesitation in it but it did start and ran fine.



I'm about to take it and have the Fuel Pressure checked. I've tried to listen to the fuel pump but I have about 50% hearing in both ears.



Any other ideas?

 

[Richard L]

Early Gen-1 Sport Tracs had a problem with a bad fuel pump (in the tank) that would leak fuel pressure and be hard to start after sitting overnight.



You can try to turn the key on without attempting to start the engine and see if you can hear the fuel pump running with the radio and fan off (some can, some can't). After leaving the key ON for about 15 seconds you may hear the pump shut off...that means it should have pressurized the fuel system. Then turn the key off and then try to start the engine. If it fires up, then you probably have a slow leaking fuel pump that looses pressure.



...Rich

 

[Vic Sorlie]

Yeah. How long (miles) since last fuel filter change? That's the quickest, cheapest roadblock to fuel supply. Change it if you're overdue (my habit is 2 years or 30K miles). Otherwise get a fuel pressure check done; your fuel pump may be the culprit. Lots of good videos on YouTube - I like Scotty Kilmer and Eric The Car Guy.

 

[Vic Sorlie]

Travis, what'd you spend $1500 on? I'm sure it smarted, but if it weren't on fuel and/or ignition systems it don't reckon for this thread. I have no experience with Seafoam, so your "capful in the intake" is an interesting tweak. Let us know what the fuel press check shows.

 

[Scott Tanner]

Sounds just like what i went through on my 240,000mi 02 trac- the fuel pump's armature has a dead spot on it. Sometimes it stops right on the dead spot, and won't start. For a while i could toggle the key on and off a few times and have it get by the dead spot.