06 4.6 exhibits intermittent long, sometimes hard cranking before engine starts. It like cranks a dozen times before starting. Any ideas??

 

Sounds like it is loosing fuel pressure. That is the first thing I would check if its not under warranty.
IF its still under warranty take it to Ford and make em fix it.

 

my blazer used to be like that, had the fuel pump replaced and now it starts on first crank, better than my brand new stratus

 

It's had me wondering, this engine is fly-by wire so to speak, so, I'm thinking, if it's like my diesel, which is totally an electronically controlled system, then all the sensors need be lined up before starting. But it still seems to be cranking too long before she fires. Am I wrong, or is this engine not electronic controlled??

 

Sounds to me like it is the crank position sensor. It will keep the engine from cranking. I has a 93 Taurus SHO that had a crank position sensor go bad and sometimes it would start and other times it would crank, and crank, and crank. If it isn't the fuel pump then the next thing I would check is the CPS.

 

Yes it is a drive by wire. Try turning the key on for like 2 seconds before starting and see if you still have the long crank time.

 

another thing for you to try would be to check the fuel filter (much much cheaper). I had the same problem and then replaced that before I replaced the fuel pump and the filter was clogged which caused the problem.