1999 Ford F150 4.6L
I've been given a gift and an opportunity to add to my experience. My friend is SO done with this truck as I still see a glimpse of life in it. I went to pick it up drove a few blocks, noticed it was running rich, it started shaking and quickly losing compression. It backfired twice and died. Now he had work done to it before he dropped it in my laps. Said the mechanic changed out the fuel pump and coils??? I guess another mechanic told him it was the MAF sensor. My personal opinion is that the timing chain may be the problem. It'll crank but won't start now. This will be a major project if I must dive in to change out the timing chain. I did put a code reader to it and everytime it read the same, "Error no data". I do have some mechanical experience so therefore I am knowledgeable of how it works and what to do and not to do. So with the symptoms I just described does anyone have productive insight to help me out???

 

Since I'm assuming you are testing with the ignition in the ON position then you may have:
1. a bad code reader (if it works in another car then it's ok)
2. a bad connector under the dash (possible but uncommon as far as I know)
3. a bad PCU (possible but they are hard to kill)
4. Blown fuses (I'd start here first.)

There may be other items causing it but some things to look at.

 

I'll guess that the battery has been run down or disconnected, thus the no data response. You have to drive them 50=100 miles to reset the information, so in your case, that is not possible. Check the 5 amp fuse for the DTC and see if it is blown.

Check the crank and cam sensors and see if they OHM out correctly. If they are ok, then we go on to the next possible. The timing chains on these will make noise, but rarely, and I mean rarely will they jump, so that most likely isn't your cause. If a tensioner takes a dump, it can cause a chain to possibly jump, but it isn't a particular I've run into myself. I've replaced guides a few times (line tech), but I never saw one that jumped the shark.

You have a new fuel pump, so rule out fuel, per se, so on to spark. This is where the cam/crank sensors come in. Lastly air. MAF? Have you cleaned the sensor with electronic cleaner and not something else? With a rich run condition, I'd also pull the O2 sensors and see if they are beyond black. If so, part of your problem may of shown itself to you. Just thoughts for you to consider.

 

Akdoggie... Thank you for the respect and information. I will definetly check the list and post what the problem is/was.Experience wise, I was excited that it would be, and kind of dreading it at the same time, problem being the timing chain. You have given me a starting point. Thanks again.

 

I agree with Alaska, I would first check to see if you are getting spark. Then go to the testing of the crank and cam sensors. If no spark, this is a good bet that one of these is bad.

 

I don't think I could jump to that conclusion

 

Said the mechanic changed out the fuel pump

I'm going with the assumption that it was changed. Of course, the best bet is to check it for pressure.

 

Is the body in good shape? How about the interior? If all is in good shape, it is worth it. Hopefully you can figure out what is wrong. Even an engine swap would not be too expensive.

 

ya I saw the new fuel pump in the OP post

I bought a 1996 f150 about 10 years ago, didn't run, PO said he replaced a bunch of stuff, distributor was one of them.
guess what it took to get it running?
a new distributor.

the one in it was a brand new one from Orielly's, it was junk with less than 300 miles on it. actually it was just the electronic part that was bad. hall effect sensor.

just sayin, new doesn't mean working.

I'd check everything, in the KISS order
air
fuel
spark