Hey I think I have a problem that for once I can find a post that already covers it.
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I have a ’99 E-350 with the 5.4l and an automatic tranny. The problem is that the van will apparently not start when it is cold out. I initially thought there was a problem with the fuel pump but pressure out of the pump is fine when it is getting power. I don’t always seam to be getting proper voltage to the pump however so bypassed the harness to see if that was the problem and even with the pump then running it still wouldn’t start. Once I can get the vehicle to turn on the problem goes away. This morning I tried to start it and again she wouldn’t fire, put a heater under the engine compartment for 45 min and it fired right up as good as ever.
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From everything I can figure out my problems seam to be coming back to the PCM, but I know for them to go on a vehicle with only 120k is rare. Does anyone else have any thoughts before I spend way more on this old van than I want to chasing problems through the electrical system.

 

I would run thru the basics, air cleaner, clean MAF, clean IAC, Check IAT or repalce it, maybe change the plugs, reset the pcm and then see what I have, In other words go thru the components that the pcm looks at on a cold start before the cats heat up
My .02

 

Could be a relay.

Temp that it happens at?
What does it do exactly when you try and start it.
Do you get faint clicking and dash light going dim?


When it's -20F and colder up here we have trouble with dads pick-up starting when it is not plugged in.
The starting relay does not like to work.

 

Kbsupercrew
I went through all of the basics you mentioned except the IAC and the IAT. No codes are being thrown, but when it is not starting and I try to check then I get a vehicle not responding error on my handheld scanner.
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Would a problem with the Idle Air Control valve or the Intake Air Temp sensor cause the it not to start or just run poorly.
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Ak
It seams to be acting up when it is below 40ish hard to say we really just put the coloration with the temp together this morning.
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All the relays in the distribution box seam to be working fine as I have rotated them all through and tested them. When it starts everything is normal. When it doesn’t the only noticeable difference is that the fuel pump doesn’t go on, I have given the pump power directly (assuming it was a problem with the wiring harness on the back of the distribution box) and even with the pump then running it still doesn’t start.