My E150 with the 302 V8 won't start, just cranks over. What should I check first?

 

the Yellow Pages for a mechanic, no sorry, my New years resolution to be nice must be observed.
Has it been sitting a long time? Does the gas smell like paint varnish? Do you have fuel rail pressure? Spark from distributer cap and to at least one plug boot? Start with the basics. Search this forum for reading engine codes. You may find some direction there.

 

It sat for only two days and ran fine when I parked it. Spark is getting to at least the one boot I checked. How do I check for fuel rail pressure?

 

I have plenty of pressure at the fuel fail. How do I test the crankshaft position sensor?

 

It's probably flooded from constantly cranking it. Next time hold the gas pedal down all the way while you crank it, giving it more air to mix with the excess fuel.

 

I tried that. Where is the crankshaft position sensor located and how can I test it? Also, it should be pointed out that several times leading up to this the engine was a bit hard to start but always caught on until now.

 

If it has one (and I don't think it does) it's located at the balancer, under the alternator. My 96 has one, but my old 95 didn't. The 95 was a Speed Density system, my 96 is Mass Air

 

Is the air filter clean ? That'll give one fits too if it's dirty.

 

The mid '90's era 302's and 351's did not have a crankshaft position sensor per say, unlike the Jeep engine's, The PIP acted as a CPS.

Your jumping at a few guests on what the problem could be.

First, Read this Link. Go right to the mid page under "How to Troubleshooting a No Start" Read.

You didn't state the mileage??? Yes it maters. High mileage? could be timing chain jumped??

What condition is the vacuum hose in, old and bridle, cracked and broken??
A cracked vacuum line to the MAP sensor would cause a no start quick, easy fix.

Check out the link, check some of the troubleshooting, and get back here with the results.

 

It has 272k miles. The air filter is a bit dirty but nothing extreme. All the vacuum hoses appear fine. I read the link and it said that if there is spark then the crank position sensor is working. Although I only checked for spark in two cylinders so far.

 

Change the air filter. Or just take it out, then try to start it. It doesn't take much dirt to screw with the fuel/air mixture. I learned that the hard way with the 95 E150 I had previously. Wife was driving it when it quit on her and the filter didn't LOOK dirty but was enough to screw things up

 

You were right. I replaced the air filter and it starts/runs perfect again. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

Glad to help. I was shootin in the dark too, but recalled that part about the air filter as an after thought. That caught me by surprise when it happened back then. Put a K&N filter in the box. You'll never get it dirty enough to affect it again, you'll free up some power too. Even more if you remove the silencer leading into the air fliter box.

 

Thanks baddad for this input, I've got a 93 with a 302 so I'll keep this in mind. I never would have thought of an air cleaner element causing a no start condition.

 

Good call on this one baddad

It's always the little simple things.............