Sleeping giant.
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Sleeping giant.
I have a chance to buy a 2001 Excusion 8.5 liter with 124,000. It has sat in the driveway since 2014 and only been started once. Lady claimed it ran fine up until she did not fill comfortable and safe to drive it. The battery went dead cause she left the domeight on(I am guessing cause when I replaced the battery it was on) I replaced the battery and air filter to try and start it to no avail. I bought a can of starting fluid and sprayed it in the intake behind the filter housing it would run until the eather was gone then die. I put the filter and intake hose back together and sprayed it again in the intake in front of the filter and samething run on eather and die. It is in really good shape outside and inside. I'm getting it at a good price if I can get it started and drive it home. Any help would be greatly appreciated, this will be my first ford vehicle that I have ever owned.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
The electric fuel pump (in the tank) may be gummed up and stuck from the old gas and sitting so long. Try working over the bottom center of the gas tank with a rubber mallet, give it several good whacks while the key is in the ON position, that may free it up and get it spinning.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
Spark
Fuel
Compression
You have spark and compression or it wouldn't have run on ether so now just need to solve the fuel issue.
As noted start at the tank, confirm the pump is working but also good chance the fuel has gone bad and you may need to drain the tank.
Fuel
Compression
You have spark and compression or it wouldn't have run on ether so now just need to solve the fuel issue.
As noted start at the tank, confirm the pump is working but also good chance the fuel has gone bad and you may need to drain the tank.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
Fuel filter should be under the driver's position on the inside of the frame rail. You will need the release tool to free it from the fuel line tubing.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
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From: Colorado
sitting since 2014 isn't all that long. My guess is that it stopped working when she parked it. Fuel filter (needs release tool, cheap at any auto parts store) first, then possibly the fuel pump but that is a lot more work. Too much for someone else driveway. Tow it home so you are not in a rush.The 5.4 is the least popular engine in the EX.
Check all sparkplugs as soon as you get it running, they tend to walk out. Torque wrench needed.
Check all sparkplugs as soon as you get it running, they tend to walk out. Torque wrench needed.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Kaufman TX
Check the electrics before you throw parts at it. There are fuses, relays, and an inertia switch that all need to be plugged in, operational, and not tripped before the fuel pump will come on.
It's also easy enough to provide power directly to the fuel pump bypassing keys, fuses, relays, etc. to see if the pump will run or not.
I've never seen a fuel filter on a modern Ford cause such a fuel blockage that the vehicle won't start. The engine doesn't need much at all to start, and a restriction causes a drop in fuel pressure under load, but not a no start condition.
It's also easy enough to provide power directly to the fuel pump bypassing keys, fuses, relays, etc. to see if the pump will run or not.
I've never seen a fuel filter on a modern Ford cause such a fuel blockage that the vehicle won't start. The engine doesn't need much at all to start, and a restriction causes a drop in fuel pressure under load, but not a no start condition.
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Check the electrics before you throw parts at it. There are fuses, relays, and an inertia switch that all need to be plugged in, operational, and not tripped before the fuel pump will come on.
It's also easy enough to provide power directly to the fuel pump bypassing keys, fuses, relays, etc. to see if the pump will run or not.
I've never seen a fuel filter on a modern Ford cause such a fuel blockage that the vehicle won't start. The engine doesn't need much at all to start, and a restriction causes a drop in fuel pressure under load, but not a no start condition.
It's also easy enough to provide power directly to the fuel pump bypassing keys, fuses, relays, etc. to see if the pump will run or not.
I've never seen a fuel filter on a modern Ford cause such a fuel blockage that the vehicle won't start. The engine doesn't need much at all to start, and a restriction causes a drop in fuel pressure under load, but not a no start condition.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Northern California
A fuel pressure gauge is a cheap and easy diagnostic tool, sounds like having one would help with this project. Autozone probably even has a free loaner.
As far as fuses and relays and the inertia switch, locations are in the owners manual.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Kaufman TX
Here's a bit from a youtube clip showing exactly what I mean. You can just watch the beginning bit.
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The inertia switch is the last component before the fuel pump on the +12 side of the fuel pump circuit. It's located behind the passenger kick panel. Unplug the inertia switch and there are 2 wires, one of those runs directly to the fuel pump and if you give that wire 12 volts the pump will run. Just use a length of wire from the battery to test.
Here's a bit from a youtube clip showing exactly what I mean. You can just watch the beginning bit.
6.0 Powerstroke fuel tank drain, removal, harpoon - YouTube
Here's a bit from a youtube clip showing exactly what I mean. You can just watch the beginning bit.
6.0 Powerstroke fuel tank drain, removal, harpoon - YouTube
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
Yes, the plastic gas tank sits inside a steel skid plate, but they are in physical contact with each other so hitting the skid plate should wake the pump up if its got power and isn't dead.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: North Texas
Sounds like it's time to drop the tank and replace the pump. I wouldn't want to circulate whatever ethanol filled gunk that is in that tank through the system. This is your chance to drain it out.