BareBonesXL

Looks like you're just guessing and wrenching. Does fuel level make a difference?

SCtruck

Fuel level doesn't seem to matter. The only thing that I can state is that first start of the day or some cold starts, it starts like new. After it is driven awhile, turn it off, go in and buy a loaf of bread, go out, won't start (but only sometime! lately more like every time though), sit in the truck and read emails, texts, sport scores for 15-20 minutes, then it starts (usually but not every time. I have had to wait as long as 2 hours. Eventually it will start of I haven't killed the battery. Check out what I've replaced so far based on what I've read what other people have said works when they have had a similar problem. Everyone's solution seems to be different. Also I think I started with the easiest/cheapest and worked from there.

Jbrew

Far from it, fuel pressure is one of the first things to check when it doesn't start. Other than that, it's all guesswork until. Your still avoiding the cheap, quick an easy. I suggest picking up a filter and reading the instructions for the pressure gauge. This way yo can see what's going on before chucking parts at it. Good luck SC

SCtruck

Got my fuel pressure gauge, one with a lot of adapters to cover any eventuality. Except it didn't have one that would fit my truck. So got a Ford adapter to fit the fuel rail. Fuel pressure at idle is 31.5. Today the truck would not restart after a period of running. Zero fuel pressure. New fuel pump and fuel filter will be installed this week.
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SCtruck

We replaced the fuel pump and the fuel filter (we=it's a two person job). So far it has restarted after running everytime. I'll give another update in a few days.

BigEd54

If that doesn't turn out to be the permanent fix, check your Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor. According to what I read, if the ECT is bad, it thinks the warm engine is cold and floods it.

SCtruck

I will do that. Thanks.

SCtruck

So far the truck has restarted every time after putting in the new fuel pump and fuel filter. It runs a little rough going up hills so I'm going to take it in for a tune up.

Big Ed suggested if I continued to have problems to change the coolant temperature sensor.​​​​​ I decided to do that regardless. Good thing I did. It came apart in my hands when I removed it. Corroded and brittle.

Thanks Big Ed!

SCtruck

So now - what is the sensor which looks identical to the ECT sensor and sits ahead of the ECT sensor and connects with a slightly different plug on the same wiring harness? The sensors look the same except for the connectors being just slightly different.

1998 Ford F150 4.6l Lariat 4x4

SCtruck

Many times on forums I have been on, when someone is asking for a solution to a problem, the thread simply dies. So did the suggestions work or not? You have to assume that they did or they would have continued, but you really don't know.

So hopefully this will be my last post on this thread. A new fuel pump and/or fuel filter has fixed my problem. Many thanks to all who took the time to read and make suggestions.

​​​​ I'll hang around on here for the next problem that arises.

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