I have a 1992 F-150 XLT 302 4x4 that is giving me some interesting problems. If it's been running for a while, and I shut it off, it won't start again-or at least not easily. If I try and start it, it will crank for a very long time, and usually fire up. Recently I have found that in this situation if I crank it briefly, turn the key off, crank again it fires up instantly. I'm not sure if it's fuel or spark that I'm not getting, but it doesn't backfire once it kick in.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Bryan

 

If it also is slow to start when cold, sitting overnight for instance, then it sounds like it may be losing fuel pressure.

Put a fuel pressure gague on it and see if the pressure drops after being off for a few minutes. If so, the fuel pressure regulator could be bad. There should be a connection fitting on the fuel rail. Someone else would probably have more details about where to connect the gague for this particular year/model.

As a simple test, when the hard-to-start conditions are present, turn the ignition key on, but don't start the engine. Wait 30 seconds or so to allow the electric fuel pump time to get fuel pressure up. The try to start the engine. If it starts right up, then the regulator is probably defective.

 

The next time you have the hard / no start check the fuel pressure & check for spark . What kind of maintenance , tune up history does the truck have ?

 

Try replacing the fuel check valves,if the check valves are bad they let all the fuel drain out off the lines,then to get it started you have to turn the ignition on/off a few times to get the fuel pumps to repressureize the lines.I had the same problem in my 92 f250,Ihad check valves replaced,and now it starts get!