Hi All,

I have search these forums for crank but no start and I tried many of the solutions that have been suggested but to no avail. I am at my whits end!

I have a 2007 F150 FX4 with the 5.4 and an auto trans. About 8 months ago I had my first crank no start but it did end up starting after cranking for a minute or two. I chalked it up to an anomaly and moved on. I had no issues with the truck for about two months and then it happened again, same result, it started after a few cranks. It started to get progressively worse from that moment on.

It got to the point where about once a week it just wouldn't start for a day or two and then seemingly for no reason it would fire right up and be completely normal for a week or two. After talking to a ford mechanic and reading online it seemed the most common cause was the FPDM, so I headed to the dealer and got a new one. After installing it it worked for about a month with no issues and then it was back to its old tricks. It culminated with the truck no wanting to start for over a week. At this point I thought the fuel pump had given up the ghost (I really wish ford had not done away with the Schrader valve on the fuel rail) so I went ahead and put a new Ford fuel pump module in it to no avail it still wouldn't start.

After leaving it sit in the driveway for a week I went out one day and BAMN it fired right up on the first try. The frustrating part is that it is so inconsistent I feel like I can not take it to any shop since it will probably just fire right up and since it can go days with out acting up I do not know what to do. It has no codes and the fuel tank is always at least half full, has a new fuel filter. I can hear a relay clicking in the fuse box when I am cranking it over, I am not sure if that means anything or not. I have also tried switching out the PCM relay with a different one and same result. Any help would be appreciated.

for the TL;DR crowd, 2007 FX4 5.4 with 55xxx miles on it has an intermittent crank no start. truck has new FPDM and new fuel pump assembly.

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

 

Fuel filter. After sitting for a period of time, all the sediment in it settles, and it allows fuel to flow to the fuel rails. After a period of running, all the sediment is stirred up within it, and is clogging the filter. It sits for a period, sediment settles, and starts.

 

I'd be for finding out what's "clicking" in the fuse box. If you're referring to ONE click when you go to 'start', that's possibly normal. But your description of "clicking" definitely is not. I'm suspecting some electrical issue that is intermittent.

 

The fuel filter is pretty new, under 5000 miles ago but I have an extra one so I will change it to make sure.

As for the clicking, it is a click, click, click, click the whole time it is cranking over. I am not sure what relay is doing it, I am usually alone when this happens but I will try to find out.

Yesterday morning the truck fired right up and I drove to work (about 6 miles) and parked the truck. When I went to leave 8 hours later it would not start. Tried for 20 minutes and all it would do is crank over. I left it at work and got a ride home. When I got to work this morning I went over to the truck, put the key in and it started right up.

 

Is the theft light flashing? Maybe a problem with the PASS system? Is the key a factory original do you have a second key you could try when this happens? That would eliminate the key part but not the PASS.

 

I have two keys, both original factory keys. The PATS light on the top of the dash blinks at a constant rate with no key present, when a key is put in the ignition and turned to the run position the light goes solid for a few seconds, then goes out. It does that with both of the keys i have.

 

I would suspect a lose/intermittent connection in the ignition system, When was the last tune up?

 

It does that when it starts correctly? Have you noticed what it does when it wont start?

 

Not sure if this model has the same setup but my son has an 04 Expedition with the 2 valve 5.4. The truck would either not start, or die especially when the weather was wet. After the Dealer giving it several tries over a period of 6 months took it to an independent mechanic. There is a relay built into the inside fuse panel, the windshield had leaked enough to corrode it and that what fixed the issue (@400.00 with labor).

 

The light acts the same when it starts or does not start and with both keys.

I did the spark plugs back around 48xxx, due to my short commutes I did not want to flight with carbon build up later on. I did get all 8 out with out breaking any. I have checked all of the COP connections and fuel injector connections and all are plugged in and tight.

If it happens again when I am at home I plan on using a spark tester to see if all 8 coil packs firing. If they are all dead I will take a look at the crank position sensor. I just find it odd that it would sometimes work and sometimes not if that sensor failed.