Won't Start!
12-06-2014, 01:55 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Won't Start!
Hello everyone,
I have a 1993 F-150 XLT with a 5.0 liter engine and an E4OD transmission, bearing 133,000 miles.
I started my truck up a few mornings ago. It was ~10 degrees outside. It ran for about twenty seconds, and then died. Since then, I have not been able to get it to start. It'll crank, I'll get partial oil pressure, and it'll sound like it's trying to run, but after that, it'll do nothing but turn over.
I've pulled two spark plugs, and both of them fire beautifully without an issue when cranking.
I've also sprayed starter fluid into the intake, and it makes no difference. I also smell gas in the airbox when I'm cranking, so it's definitely getting fuel.
I have removed the air cleaner and cranked without that as well, and again, there's no difference.
I've also pressed the fuel pump reset switch behind the passenger kick panel.
In addition to these things, I've pulled KOEO codes. The codes I pulled were irrelevant. The oil level is just fine.
Any ideas? Thank you!
I have a 1993 F-150 XLT with a 5.0 liter engine and an E4OD transmission, bearing 133,000 miles.
I started my truck up a few mornings ago. It was ~10 degrees outside. It ran for about twenty seconds, and then died. Since then, I have not been able to get it to start. It'll crank, I'll get partial oil pressure, and it'll sound like it's trying to run, but after that, it'll do nothing but turn over.
I've pulled two spark plugs, and both of them fire beautifully without an issue when cranking.
I've also sprayed starter fluid into the intake, and it makes no difference. I also smell gas in the airbox when I'm cranking, so it's definitely getting fuel.
I have removed the air cleaner and cranked without that as well, and again, there's no difference.
I've also pressed the fuel pump reset switch behind the passenger kick panel.
In addition to these things, I've pulled KOEO codes. The codes I pulled were irrelevant. The oil level is just fine.
Any ideas? Thank you!
12-06-2014, 02:33 PM
#2
3 components for ignition are timing, fuel & spark.
You've got spark when it's not firing, so probably not it.
Fuel - the starting fluid should have started it. How did you use it (3 second burst directly into the throttle body with the throttle plates wide open then crank it) ?
That would leave timing - anything happen lately to make you think your chain could have jumped a tooth or two ?
You sound like you know what you're doing, so find the intake stroke on #1, turn it up to 10 deg before TDC, pop the distributor cap and see if the rotor is pointing at #1 and if the little bump on the shaft is right at the actuator on the PIP.
You can also use the main crank bolt to rock the motor back and forth till it tightens against the cam gear in either direction to see how much slop is in the chain.
I know you've got some fuel but a fuel pressure check would be another thing to look at. KOEO you should be in the low 40's. It won't run under 30psi. The starting fluid should have made it fire anyway...but just in case. You can also see if it holds pressure or bleeds down real fast, which could be open injectors flooding the motor.
Check voltage at the TPS 'cause it'll shut the injectors off. Again the starting fluid, but....
You could also try a compression check - that might tell you something.
If all else fails you could try pulling all the plugs and with the key off, crank it over for 30 seconds a few times to let it clean itself out. That's a Hail Mary play, but I've seen it work.
That's all I've got from way over here.
You've got spark when it's not firing, so probably not it.
Fuel - the starting fluid should have started it. How did you use it (3 second burst directly into the throttle body with the throttle plates wide open then crank it) ?
That would leave timing - anything happen lately to make you think your chain could have jumped a tooth or two ?
You sound like you know what you're doing, so find the intake stroke on #1, turn it up to 10 deg before TDC, pop the distributor cap and see if the rotor is pointing at #1 and if the little bump on the shaft is right at the actuator on the PIP.
You can also use the main crank bolt to rock the motor back and forth till it tightens against the cam gear in either direction to see how much slop is in the chain.
I know you've got some fuel but a fuel pressure check would be another thing to look at. KOEO you should be in the low 40's. It won't run under 30psi. The starting fluid should have made it fire anyway...but just in case. You can also see if it holds pressure or bleeds down real fast, which could be open injectors flooding the motor.
Check voltage at the TPS 'cause it'll shut the injectors off. Again the starting fluid, but....
You could also try a compression check - that might tell you something.
If all else fails you could try pulling all the plugs and with the key off, crank it over for 30 seconds a few times to let it clean itself out. That's a Hail Mary play, but I've seen it work.
That's all I've got from way over here.
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DuctTape (12-06-2014)
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DuctTape (12-06-2014)
12-08-2014, 11:59 AM
#4
I think Chris pretty much summed it up! I would check timing, if your truck has 2 tanks try the other one see if that makes a difference, even though you tried starting fluid. If you didnt try it the way Chris said try that and see if it will fire. If you have air spark and fuel (enough pressure), then the timing is off.
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DuctTape (02-21-2015)
02-21-2015, 11:26 AM
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Chris and 4x4- thanks for replying. I did as you suggested, and the timing looked fine. I didn't have time to look at it any more for a couple months, but since we've been having unusually warm weather over the past few days, I decided to try to start it. It started right up, but had trouble idling (I had to keep my foot on the accelerator). After driving it around for awhile, it ran as usual. I don't know what happened. I'm stumped. Thanks again!
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03-10-2015, 03:13 PM
#9
Member
Thread Starter
Chris, I put heet in the forward tank after I couldn't start it. Basically the same thing as far as I recall. It had no effect, although it is possible that as it sat there and warmed up, the fuel, the heet, and the water became more miscible and the heet was allowed to permeate. I don't know how long it takes for fuel to get to the injectors from the tank, not my area of study.
