When I tried to leave work my truck would not start. It's a 95 F150 with a 5.8l and an E4OD trans. I check the fuel rail and it is getting fuel, the battery is brand new and fully charged. I am stumped. Any ideas. I need help and need it badly. Thanks to everyone in advance.

 

What is it doing when you try to start it? Does it turn over? Does it try to fire? I would check for spark. It could be that the TFI ignition module has gone out.

 

If it does not crank and you hear the starter relay on the fender click once each time you turn the key wiggle the spade connector down on the starter solenoid.



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it turns over just fine, I have spark and fuel in the rail. When i depressed the schrader valve in the fuel rail, i get fuel but not at pressure. I am wondering if the fuel filter could be clogged and not letting enough fuel through

 

check fuel pressure with a gage or see if it will turn over using starter fluid,if it starts briefly then fuel delivery is the problem.

 

If there is fuel there it should still try to fire, even if there isn't enough. I'm betting that the injectors are not letting fuel in.

 

X2 what TerryS said.

Just a NOTE: Use extreme care with Starting fluid..May cause more headaches if it were to ignite violently in the head...Most people shoot a whole bunch in the intake and then it damages more in the head than it would have cost to repair the 1st problem.

Pull the plugs after turning the engine over a few times. If you can hear the fuel pump prime when you 1st turn the key over, then you should have fuel being delivered. After letting the engine turn a few times, get at the plugs and see if they smell of fuel. If they do, I would suspect TFI or coil problem.

That should help narrow down the problem.

 

Any suggestions, its at work and I'm limited to tools and after-hours to fix her, if I can. This stinks, she wa running great, then nothing

 

Do you have two tanks and if so does it do the same thing on the other tank?
Do you hear the fuel pump run for one second when you turn on the key?

If not ground pin #6 of the self-test plug (image below) and turn on the key. Do the fuel pumps run now while the key is on?

If they do run for one second when the key is first turn on check for spark by putting a screw driver in a plug wire while holding the insulated handle.

If no spark and you do want to change the ICM (TFI) make sure you replace it with a Black one as a Gray one is the wrong one and will give problems.
If no spark post back and we will help you trouble shoot that route.




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Listen to Subford about the black and gray modules. Get the black one which should be the same color as the one thats in there.

Something quick and easy to check is the fuel pressure regulator. Pull the vacuum line off of it and see if it is leaking. This probably isn't your issue, but only takes 2 seconds to check.

 

If there isn't pressure at the schrader valve- when the fuel rail should be pressurized--then this is the source of the trouble. Remove the vacuum hose from the fuel pressure regulator and see if there is gas in the vacuum side of the FPR If there is-replace the Fuel Pressure Regulator.

If the FPR seems good-make sure that the fuel pump is actually running and pressurizing and suspect the fuel filter.

 

why not start at the fuel filter. pull the fuel line off after the filter. if fuel comes through while priming then your good. if not the tada!!! if it sends fuel through then move forward to the rail.....

 

well, the pressure regulator seems to be fine, the pumps are working or at least both sound like they are. At the schrader valve, I have fuel but not at pressure. It just bubbles out like a brook, not the spray I expected. The fuel filter is where I am going to start and then work my way forward if needed. The filer has not been changed in quite a while. I am hoping it is clogged and that is causing the problem. Ill be on my back in the parking lot tomorrow night trying to figure it out. I am extremely grateful for all of he advice. It means a lot, thanks guys. I will let you all know what I find.

 

Based on what you've said, It's almost certainly a fuel delivery issue. If you can verify that the pumps are turning on, but still no pressure at the schrader valve, then you've got problems. I'm betting on a fuel pump. Borrow or buy a fuel pressure gauge to test it. I've used mine a lot over the past few years. Well worth the $30 or so I spent on it.

I've had several cars with bad pumps and it gets aggravating trying to troubleshoot them. I spray a small amount of ether into the throttle body to verify spark. It works best with two people, but one can do it. No start means no spark. Start then die means good spark.

 

I can hear both pumps come on and cycle. What would be the odds that both pumps would go out at the same time( I have the two tank option)?