Gentlemen I need your help.
Sometimes when I turn the key on the key stays in the full forward position and the engine turns over without ignition, and continues to turn over when I release the key. The key does not spring back to its normal position. The engine does not fire up. This has happened on rare occasions in the past, but when I manually turn the key back, and then turn it forwards to start the engine it starts up without a problem and the key springs back to its proper position. However on Friday night, when I was ready to leave the Overland Expo in Flagstaff, the problem persisted with out ignition. It finally started after two hours - after praying for Divine intervention. Divine intervention is wonderful (thank you God!), but clearly I have a problem that I need to understand and resolve.
i look forward to your suggestions.

 

Anti-theft light does go off when I turn the key to start the engine, so I conclude that the problem is not related to the anti-theft system.

 

Sounds to me like the ignition switch is starting to fail

 

Yes, that may explain part of the problem, but the engine should fire up. When I sprayed starter fluid into the air intake the engine started and ran for a few seconds - until the starter fluid was consumed.

 

I researched on the internet and learned that it is unlikely to be the fuel pump. I changed the fuel filter a few months ago.

 

that sounds like your fuel pump is going bad you need to have it pressure tested to see how healthy is it if the pressure its putting out is not to full spec its on its way out

 

Yes, it may be the fuel pump. I am getting an error code P0191 ‘Fuel rail pressure sensor range/performance’. I’m not sure what that means. How would I pressure test the fuel pump?

 

you need a scanner tool to test out the pump unfortunately Ford removed the valve in the fuel rail where you used to screw in a fuel pressure tester

 

Ok, is that the OBD2 Scan tool?

 

yes with the OBD2 scan tool that is capable is reading and testing the fuel pressure