v-10 Excursion wont start

[Matthew Runals]

My buddy has a 2000 V-10 Ford excursion beast and it is having trouble starting. It wouldn't start at my house several days ago. The engine sounded like it would turn over but would putter out as if there wasn't enough fuel getting to the engine. It did sound that the starter was trying to turn the engine over. I asked when was the last time he had his fuel filter changed, he didn't know. The beast has over 200K on it and he was doubtful that the filter had ever been changed. My next guess would be the fuel pump but that would be very costly to replace. After awhile, letting the engine sit, it finally started right up. He just now called me and said it died on him again and had to leave it a nearby store. What do you guys think? Could it be the fuel filter or a dead starter on its last legs? I know my info is brief but that is about all I have.

 

[Matthew Runals]

I should clarify something: when he left it the engine does still try to turn but acts as if its out of fuel. I'm leaning more towards a fuel line issue, again either the filter or the fuel pump.

 

[Vic Sorlie]

Typical: People expect that they can run their rides into the ground and are amazed when the machinery fails. I'd start with the basics - fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, bottle of injector cleaner, battery check. Clean throttle body, change PCV valve. Oil system flush and change to synthetic oil. If engine starts and then dies, it's not the starter.

 

[Travis Stevens]

probably fuel filter or pump... IMO if you had been running regular engine oil all this time dont switch to synthetic now... i had a ford ranger that i did that with and the synthetic oil cleaned out the old deposits left behind from the regular oil so well that it blew my head gasket because it cleaned out deposits that had formed in places re-sealing any leaks or cracks that were aiding in the gaskets life... just my $0.02