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Starting trouble (sometimes)

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Old Feb 22, 2019 | 08:38 AM
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Starting trouble (sometimes)

Every so often my 2002 F-150 will just turn over and not start. After a few tries it starts right up.
The battery is good and the engine runs great without any issues.
The starter is strong and doesn’t seem to be the problem.
No electrical issues.
I thought it might be a distributor issue?
Anyone else have this issue?
Thanks.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2019 | 04:02 PM
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you might be running out of fuel.. There is a pressure regulator under the hood on drivers side that dumps excess fuel from the line back into the fuel tank. If the rubber diaphram inside the regulator is BAD, the pressure can bleed off and have no fuel available to startup... This would be more common first thing in the morning after setting a day or two. ... There is a Schrader valve ( like a tire valve) on the fuel line in the VEE of the engine. You can measure pressure at that point if you want to see if it is maintaining pressure....... you can also have a leaking check valve inside the fuel tank on the fuel pump.... How many miles ? Do you have the original fuel pump ?
 
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Old Feb 22, 2019 | 05:23 PM
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Start up

My truck has close to 115000 miles and I don’t know if it’s the original fuel pump,(bought it used)
Never had a problem except for a whistle coming from the engine bay...only in cold weather.
Like I said before, the truck runs perfect...just have this problem recently.
BTW, I just changed the fuel filter but this problem popped up prior to that.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2019 | 08:40 PM
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fuel pump normally last longer... but still possible that check valve leaking..... Next time it does it, STOP... turn key on, wait 3 seconds, turn key off, turn key on, wait 3 seconds, turn key off, then start truck.... when you turn the key to ON, ( not start), the fuel pump runs for 3 seconds and will prime the fuel line... See if that fixes the problem.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2019 | 09:41 PM
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Starting problem

Thanks. I’ll try that next time it happens.
Fingers crossed.
 
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Old Feb 23, 2019 | 11:03 AM
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Sounds similar to my 2001 Explorer's behavior. Ended up being a fuel pressure regulator.
 
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Old Feb 23, 2019 | 11:25 AM
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Starting trouble

Thanks.
I’ll check it out!
 
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Old Feb 23, 2019 | 12:38 PM
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Murf-150 - Every so often my 2002 F-150 will just turn over and not start. After a few tries it starts right up.The battery is good and the engine runs great without any issues.The starter is strong and doesn’t seem to be the problem.No electrical issues.I thought it might be a distributor issue?Anyone else have this issue?
You've posted in the 2009 - 2014 F150 forum, more appropriate should have been - 1997 - 2003 F150 ««« -click-

When was the last time that the fuel filter was changed?

HINT/TIP: Put your complete vehicle information (year, model, cab, trim, engine, wheelbase, _x4 drive, mileage, etc., etc., etc.) in your signature -OR- provide it in your posting(s).
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Old Feb 23, 2019 | 07:23 PM
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Starting trouble

I just had my fuel filter change about a week or so ago.
 
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Old Feb 25, 2019 | 03:32 PM
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I'd check fuel pressure when this is happening and when it runs well. Report it back here and I bet we can tell you more based on that.

Also, if it is easy, see if there are any codes stored.

Fuel pumps usually do last longer (in miles), however, previous owner may have let it suck air a lot or there might be dirt in there or maybe it idled for 100,000 hours or who knows what in 17 years of being a pickup.
 
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Old Feb 25, 2019 | 06:49 PM
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How do you check the fuel pressure? Is there a tool I need to do that?
Codes stored? I have a code reader but I don’t know how to pull that info up?
 
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Old Feb 25, 2019 | 11:15 PM
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Fuel pressure gauge, pretty inexpensive.

For the code reader, there are a million different readers out there. You'll have to pull up the instructions for yours to get that going.
 
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Old Feb 26, 2019 | 08:25 AM
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the fuel pressure port is a Schrader valve like used on a tire.. You can buy a special gauge to measure the fuel pressure. a quick test is to take a small pointed screw driver or nail and POKE the center pin on the Schrader valve to see if it POPS out some fuel. That don't tell you the pressure, but it does tell you there is pressure inside the rail..

You code reader should have a cable and plug into a large PORT below the steering wheel, under the dash. turn it on and it will read and give you the CODE NUMBERS.. you can look up on GOOGLE, or you can ask here what the codes mean.
 
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