Hello again,

I have a 1990 F150, 4.9L v6. 162k miles.

My truck doesnt like to start. I can crank it several times. about 50% of the time it will eventually start, the rest of the time the battery goes dead.

If I hook another car for a jump, it starts up fairly quickly. Only a couple of cranks usually.

A local mechanic hooked up something and said my alternator was barely charging so I changed that.

I had the battery checked at autozone and they said it needs a charge but its good.

The truck is running now so it can charge.

After I get the truck started it initially runs very rough. Once I gas it a few times it smooths out.

To date I've changed:

Throttle position sensor
EGR valve
IAC
Plugs
Plug wires
Distributor
ignition Coil.
O2 sensor

Any other thoughts on what I can look at? It failed emissions pretty badly and I need to get it running well so I can tackle the emissions and get this thing to work.

Thanks

 

and to update...after leaving it to idle for 30 minutes i came out to find it died and will not start. Cranks but doesnt start. It kicks like its going to, but it wont

 

Got gas? Lol, gotta ask. Here's for some electrical tests on the ignition system if you want.
http://easyautodiagnostics.com/ford_...d_module_1.php

Before that spray some starting fluid in the throttle body when you try to start it next. Its usually the quick way of finding whether its a fuel problem or an electrical problem. Starts, fuel. No start, spark. If I remember correctly anyway.

 

I would also have the battery tested again, make sure its load tested, not just a voltage test.

 

I suspect it may be a mix of both.... not sure. When I hit the turn signal, there's a noticeable jump in the battery voltage on the dash (but that may not be reliable at all).

Also, both fuel pumps whine loud enough to hear in the cab of the truck. I suspect there are mutliple fuel issues.

The front take delivers the most power, but you cant fill that tank fast. If you squeeze the gas pump all the way, it kicks off like the tank is full.

The rear tank causes the truck to hesitate. Its also the loudest fuel pump.

 

The front tank might be a vapor issue. The fill tube is actually a tube within a tube. I don't know exactly but Ive seen a few fuel tank filling issues solved by replacing or cleaning those tubes out. Get the battery tested again, load tested like I said before. The battery gauge isn't super accurate but its a good general indicator. Check fuel pressure. Oh, and pull codes. Pull codes. Pull codes. No excuses on not knowing how, there is a sticky here that tells how to. Pull codes.

 

Im thinking fuel issues. if it was running rough at first maybe because it wasnt getting the gas it needed, then finally after gassing it you forced the gas through. and now it doesnt start because you arent getting gas at all.

 

Thanks everyone. I'm going to pull some codes. I thought I needed to wait until a light was on, but as of yet I havent had any (except when starting without the EGR connected).

I'm happy to report that I went outside and tried to start it with some success. First attempt, it cranked with nothing. Second attempt it cranked then kicked a bit and died. Third attempt started it right up and with some pumping of the gas pedal it got to a normal idle.

At that point, I drove it around for 30 minutes or so for the sake of the battery. After the third minutes the batter gauge was almost at the halfway mark, which tells me it works somewhat, and may give me a good general idea.

What's going to end up happening (i guess) is getting the the fuel pumps and a check valve replaced along with the catalytic converter.

Both of those are jobs I dont want to take on myself. I'm willing to bet that after those fixes it will pass inspection. If that remedies some of the issues, I'll be installing some air bags on the rear suspension. My sole purpose in buying this truck (for $1k flat) is hauling wood pellets for my furnace a ton at a time. That and piles of firewood for the fireplace.

I do have to say that despite its problems I enjoy working on the truck a lot.

 

Codes can exist without the light on.

 

Fuel filter is where I'd start then gradually go through the whole fuel system.