Billzfan88

Im about to have a new project truck thanks to my mother in law... its a 87 f150 Manual Single cab...... her ex husband is sending it back to us and i got word it doesn't start.... It turns over but wont start..... My father in law thinks its the fuel pump.... I have gotten information that he drove it about a month ago with no issues...Now i am new to Fords but not my first rodeo with turning a wrench...... Built a very nice autocross car in high school and have a Jeep cherokee i have pretty much rebuilt from the ground up........Since I'm new to the ford game and its been awhile so i worked on a distributor vehicle i was wondering if you guys could point me in the right direction and where i should look first....... Any information would be greatly appreciated.... Its a V8 with only 87K miles...... Where should i start first thanks guys...... FYI he didn't take very good care of it........ Really look forward to getting this thing running! I LOVE the truck!

88xlt

It's a V8, but is it a 302(5.0 liter) or a 351(5.8 liter)? It will make a difference, because I think the 351 still had a carburetor, the 302 was fuel injection.

You can start by checking for spark by pulling the wire out of the center of the distributor cap and holding it a bit away and watching for spark while spinning the engine over. If you use a remote starter switch to do this without an assistant, don't forget to turn the ignition switch on.

Also make sure the battery has plenty of charge, it will likely be down from cranking try to start it.

Billzfan88

she's a 302... i know for sure its fuel injected

Steve83

When you get the truck, collect ALL its details as explained in this caption, and put them into your signature so we can see them with each of your posts:


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Right now, you could order a Haynes manual (late red or early blue):


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Do you have a digital multimeter & know how to use it? Change the battery if you haven't recently. Do you have regular tools & a place to work on it? I highly recommend washing it before starting to work on it:


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The first thing to do is a THOROUGH visual inspection, but you'll need to familiarize yourself with what you'll be looking at by reading the Haynes. You can also click my signature link & browse the General Purpose album, and the Diagrams album. Possibly the most-important thing to check is the battery & its terminals, as described in this album:


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Next, go to the Troubleshooting section of Haynes, before Ch. 1. I suspect it will lead you to the ignition diagnostic in Ch.5 (usually Sec.5 or 7, depending on edition), but don't jump ahead. You should also be prepared to put a fuel pressure gauge on it:


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Billzfan88

I finally got to mess around with the truck today....... When you turn the key you can't hear the high pressure pump come on..... i crawled under the truck and had my wife turn the key and the fuel pump makes no noise at all..... I listen for the ones in the tank and didn't hear anything from back there either...... this is my first ford and looking for a direction to go... the fuel relay and ecc relay click on when you turn the key.... check the connection of the battery terminal wires also and good to go there??? where should i go from here??? thanks

Steve83

First, you should put all the truck's details into your signature. Then, use a 12V test light (or DMM) to find out if any of the pumps are getting 12V. Do what this pic shows to keep the FP relay on with the key:


(phone app link)

Billzfan88

Steve83

Start with your signature, as I've already said twice. Then do all the other things I said in posts #4 & #6.

Billzfan88

Billzfan88

Idk if it helps but I also had power at the yellow wire on the fuel pump relay