May be developing a problem. My truck ~'88 F-150, 302, 5 spd~ is not wanting to start. It turns over nice and strong but will not fire. After turning it over for @ 5 seconds I stop and then try again and it will start.

It has always fired right up with no hesitation till the last week or so. When I turn the key on the first time, I do not hear the fuel pump running but when I try it the second time I do. Could my fuel pump be going bad or could it maybe be something in the wiring in the steering column not getting turned on till the key is twisted all the way to the start position?

If does turn out to be the pump, I do have one mounted on the frame rail but is there one in the tank as well? The online parts store shows both and I really haven't taken the time to look (lots of overtime right now).

Any ideas on where to look first would be great. As a side note, since this has been happening the truck feels a little sluggish. I did change the fuel filter on the frame a few months ago, so that shouldn't be a problem. I did hit a large deer a few weeks ago dead center of the front bumper while going @ 65 mph. I know a couple of newer ~early 90's~ Fords that I have had were equipped with fuel shutoffs under the dash that would trip if the vehicle took a hard knock. I looked under the dash on this truck for one but had no luck in finding it, so is it safe to say it doesn't have one?

Thanks in advance

 

i think the fuel shut off (inertia) switch is under the passenger side kick panel on a gas truck

 

I would say to start by checking the fuel pressure. Possible problem parts could be your low-pressure fuel pump in the tank, high-pressure fuel pump on the frame, fuel pressure regulator, and the fuel pump relay.

 

I got to look around at it some last night. Did find the inertia switch finally, tucked under the dash on the drivers side, and it was fine. Pulled the fuel pump relay and cleaned the contacts just for the heck of it. I really want to believe it's one of the pumps, since I don't hear it coming on with the key like I used to.

With all of the fuels pumps I've had go bad before, the vehicle would not run at all. I guess I'll keep narrowing it down till I find it.