Long time listener, first-time caller here. I have a 1997 F250HD with a 460 and auto trans (just rolled over 250k miles) periodically giving me fits and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. For what it's worth, I've scoured this forum(s) and have yet to find a solution- so I apologize if I overlooked it but I appreciate any guidance nonetheless.

The vehicle is new to me. It runs like a champ 99.9% of the time. The problem I'm having (and cannot reliably replicate) is that randomly I'll go out to the truck and it will crank, but won't start. And I mean it'll crank until the battery dies- no fire. I've found that if you swear A LOT and walk away for a couple of hours to collect your thoughts and come back out, it'll fire right up.

It has only done this to me cold (engine temp). One time it had sat for two days at 40 degrees F and once it had sat for 9 days at between -10 and 15 above F. When it has done it and I've actually got it to start, I'll shut it down to see if it still has issues and it'll start right back up like nothing happened. I have no CEL. It's not the "crash/fuel cutoff". There are two error codes via the OBD1 but they seem to be unrelated (KOEO 172 and 332). Incidentally, I have let it sit under the exact same circumstances and climate conditions multiple times and cannot get it to replicate. I have researched everything I have access to, and short of bringing a ouiji board to the meeting, I'm at a loss.

Any help would be really appreciated.

 

Next time it won't start, try starting it using starting fluid in the TB to see if your problem is gas or spark.