This morning my 1996 4.9L would not start. It cranks and at least one maybe two of the cylinders are firing, howver it will not start. I drove it yesterday just fine. The "check engine" light had come on but there was no problem driving.

I replaced the rotor, distributor cap, and ignition coil. It cranks just fine but still does not start.

I have ordered a diagnostic thing but was wondering if anyone miht have an idea of the cause.

I am the original owner and it has 211,000 miles on it. It is in very good condition.

 

Spark or fuel, and since at least one maybe two of the cylinders are firing, probably fuel. Can you hear the fuel pump(s) run?

The check engine light came on. Pull the codes using instructions at Ford Fuel Injection to find out what the truck is telling you.

 

im having a similar issue. truck is a 1989 ford f250 2wd 4.9 with a zf trans it doesnt matter if truck is hot or cold its always hard to start it take about 30 seconds of cranking and feathering the gas before it fires up i have replaced both fuel pumps and pump on rail and fuel filter and also fuel pressure regulator and previous owner had injectors put in it i have also replaced dizzy cap and rotor and plug wires and new plugs any ideas what my problem might be? she always starts up just takes some cranking im just worried one day the battery will die before she cranks please any help would be awesome btw truck has 388k and counting tranny has been rebuilt and so has bottom end of motor rod and main bearings and oil pump no check engine li7e or codes

 

southernchaos,

Check the compression.

 

Okay. I received and ran the diagnostic program. It did not show any codes. It showed a location 16 for location but no problem codes.

Would it clear the codes when I disconnected the battery to change the ignition coil, distributor cap and button?

Did not hear the fuel pump run when I turned the ignition key. I may be missing it, where are the fuel pumps?

 

StockF150XL,

What do you mean by location 16?
Yes it will clear your codes when you disconnect the battery.
You have one fuel pump in each tank.



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StockF150XL, it might be easist to spray some starting fluid in the intake while someone else is cranking the engine. If it starts, even for a few seconds, then you know that the problem is probably fuel, not spark. Then you can use Subford's excellent diagram to figure out what's wrong. I'm a newbie here and don't know about later model trucks with in-tank pumps only, but when I was looking for a truck to buy I ran across several that wouldn't run on one tank or the other. Get underneath the truck near each tank and listen while someone else turns the key on and off (that someone else won't have to crank the engine, just turn the key until the dash lights come on.) If you can't hear the pump run then you're halfway to fixing the problem.

 

Thanks for the diagram.

Maybe not the correct name. The first screen gives a location or maybe processor the error comes from and then the error code in a separate display field.

There is another page that just pulls and lists errors. First time ever using this or any auto diagnostic.

Checked the relay (made the clicking sound) and listeng at the tank for any sounds(the fuel filter and line clicked when the relay opened) but there was no sound from the tank.

Then switched fuel tanks at the selector and the engine cranked and ran. I assume it is the fuel pump. I thought I had checked by switching tanks before but maybe not. So the problem appears to be the fuel pump in the forward tank.

edit: Thought I had switched the tanks as a test before but may be not.