Hello everyone,

I'm having some intermittent starting troubles and it's extremely frustrating and I'm hoping someone can help.

It started Labor day weekend. I was heading out for a holiday camping trip and my 1998 F-150 would not start. It cranked extremely hard & strong but would not start, I tried starting it 3 times. I raised the hood and was talking to a co-worker and I decided to try it again & it started... just like it always has in the past, no problems. Well it started fine for the next month so I was hoping it was just a fluke, it wasn't. One month later I was going to work one morning and it wouldn't start, same thing. I tried to start it 3 times, strong cranking, just wont start. I go in the house to call work & let them know I'll be late, I walk back out to the truck to try it again and it started fine absolutely no problems. I checked with a few shops and everyone said it needed to be encountering the problem before they could figure it out. A few more weeks go by & everything is fine, until early last week. I was leaving work and it wouldn't start, now when it does this you can hear the fuel pump buzzing but it still wont start. I tried the normal 3 cranks with no luck, waited a few minutes, then it started. Everything was fine until this past Thursday, I was leaving work and it wouldn't start. This time I tried the normal 3 cranks and waited and tried it again, this time after waiting it still wouldn't start, I kept trying to start it and it wouldn't start. This time the fuel pump was not buzzing. I tried a to switch the fuel pump relay and it still wouldn't start. I tried for another 10-15 minutes and it wouldn't start and the fuel pump was not buzzing. It was frustrating but I thought at least now the dealer can look at it and hopefully get it figured out. I called a tow truck and had it hauled in after hours and left the key in the drop box. Well they called me yesterday with the results...they don't know! When they went out to check it the following morning it started, the advisor told me they had started it 10-15 times all throughout the day. Every time time they try it, it starts. I'm supposed to pick it up tomorrow and I know it's only a matter of time until I have trouble again. I'm hoping to get a few idea's from you guys. One thing that really confuses me is the fact that sometimes the fuel pump buzzes and it wont start and this last time it didn't buzz so I was convinced it was the fuel pump. I really don't know what to do and it's driving me crazy...lol Any and all suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks for your help.

 

Your trying to beat it to death with words.
Test the fuel pressue when it wont start to eliminate that possibility.
Use your spare key when it fails to start. It might be a PATS issue.
Once a problem is detected by the PATS, it may requie a time out period before that system will allow the motor to start. Part of theift deterent.
Until some one does some checking when it's acting up, nothing will be found.
Good luck.

 

I was wandering if you ever got this issue cleared up. I am having the same issue.