I have a 2001 f-250 Super duty 4x4 with 123,000 miles. It intermittently won't start without turning the key off and trying several times. It cranks over fine but seems like the fuel pump is not always turning on. Once started, sometimes it quits right away like it ran out of gas, otherwise, it runs fine once started and idling. It has a new fuel filter and plugs.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

It's your Idle Air Control valve (IAC). Inexpensive and easy to replace. Mine went at about 125K.

The one on my Exploder has been on the way out for the last four years. When it won't start I just lightly smack it with a wrench and it fires right up.

 

Thanks Rugby3, I'll give it a try today.

 

Edit: I didn't read the part about it starting and shutting off...might want to check that IAC before looking at the fuel pump.

While it may be an IAC going bad, it sounds an awful lot like the internal check valve in the fuel pump is going bad. I had the EXACT same problem in my 4.0 ranger where you would have to turn the key several times to (Key on, Off, Key on, Off, Key on, off, *Start*) and it would start every time just like it did when new. If would also only make you do this procedure after the truck had been sitting for several hours.

There is a check valve inside the fuel pump that lets the fuel system maintain some pressure so you can hop right in and turn the key and go. If you are having to prime the system to get the truck to start...it's something fuel pump/system related.

IMO I guess it's possible it's the IAC and you may want to clean it "Just because" but I don't know that I'd go out and spend money without knowing first.

Also, if it turns out you think you need to replace the pump you can just buy the pump itself and skip out on the whole assembly. You'll have to "graft" in a new pump into the existing assembly but it's no big deal at all. While somewhat related you can see what I'm talking about in this photobucket album http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/b...Truck%20Stuff/ I had to pull the bed off that ranger to get at the pump (It was much easier than dropping a tank full of gas on that truck). I've got a picture of the fuel pump assembly and the large cylindrical piece with the coffee filter thing stuck to it is the pump with the strainer.

Edit: I didn't read the part about it starting and shutting off...might want to check that IAC before looking at the fuel pump.

 

Hold you foot lightly on the gas pedal, if it starts and then when you take your foot off the gas it stalls most likely the IAC.

 

I replaced the IAC valve and the truck still started intermittently, not too bad at $55. I swapped the fuel pump relay with another and it had no affect. Once the temp. dropped to below 35 F. the truck would not start at all, so I took Mike's advise and changed the fuel pump, via removing the bed using a tractor and loader. This solved the problem, and the truck is working good.
Thanks to all who offered suggestions.

 

outstanding 2pull! I'm glad to hear you got it fixed relatively quick.

 

I'm having the same problem on my '02 F250 5.4 with 40k miles on it. It's having a good day today and starting, but has left me stranded twice over the last year. Most recently just a few days ago. Both times I had to get it towed back to my shop at $90 each. I'm going to check the IAC valve and clean it. The weird thing is that the last time it wasn't starting, I checked the fuel pressure at the fuel rail and it was fine, but still no start. I would think that would rule out a bad fuel pump. Then the next day I went to start it and it fired right up.

The bad thing about an intermittent problem like this is that I won't know if it's fixed unless it doesn't die on me. It could die on me tomorrow or it could die on me a year from now. I plan on checking the truck this week sometime. I'll probably start it, drive it around, come back to the shop, turn it off, and try starting it up again. I'll repeat this over and over until it doesn't start, then I'll check for fuel and spark. I'll let you all know what I find out.

I'll be driving my '98 Saturn with 120k miles around until I know the truck is reliable enough to drive.

 

Ok, I went to start it a few days ago and it started once then didn't start again after that. I checked for spark. It had spark. I checked for fuel pressure at the fuel rail schrader valve. No fuel pressure. The fuel pump fuse was ok. I don't know where the fuel pump relay is so I didn't check that. I am getting 12 volts at the fuel pump when the key is turned on and when cranking the engine.

So I am thinking it's a bad fuel pump. I siphoned the fuel out and removed the fuel tank skid plate. I plan on dropping the tank sometime in the next few days. Shouldn't be too hard.

 

Well it turned out it was a bad fuel pump. It was a relatively easy job once I pumped all of the fuel out of the tank. I thought it was another problem since the starting issue was intermittent like on 2pull's V10. I thought it would've just stopped working all together.