So...I went to eat with the misses, left, drove 1/10th of a mile to the gas station and got fuel. When I went to leave my truck (1999 F150) wouldnt start. It would turn over and over and over, cough, and spit a little and thats about it. We called a tow truck and while waiting for it to arrive I tried starting it a few times again and it would cough, sputter, spit and barely ALMOST start. The tow truck came and he was talking about the intertia switch...right, I know...then when we got it home a few miles away we rolled it off with it in neutral. I put in park and tried and it fired right up . I had a strange incident with this one time a few months ago but it coughed and then ran.

I read on here that the shift lever connection can get goofy. A buddy said its probably the fuel pump. I HAVE noticed that the shift lever and indicator will say that its in park but its still actually in reverse. It KIND of makes sense that could be it because of a loose switch connection in the shift safety deal almost letting it start by barely making a contact.

So...any ideas?

 

I'm with your buddy, fuel pump. Can you hear it prime when you first turn the key on? Kinda hard to check for pump prime noise by yourself; have someone turn the key on while you have your ear to the open filler neck.

 

Ive never heard the fuel pump prime. Ever. I can see it being the fuel pump for sure, and maybe even a filter. But after reading that post about the shift lever not being COMPLETELY closed that would make sense too because that has happened a bunch where it says Im in park, but its still in reverse, or it says Im in reverse and Im still in neutral...considering thats happened a bunch Id say the odds of that happening are better than it NOT being the reason.

Are there two fuel pumps or just one?

I have family that lives in Mt. Juliet.

 

I would say listen for the fuel pump to prime, it's a high pitch whistle... if you rule that out then check the fuel filter or change it anyway if ya haven't in a while... look for the theft light to be blinking although it shouldn't even so much as cough if its the PATS...

To fix your other problem, there's a little black wheel under your dash on the steering column... it adjusts the needle indicator for gear selection, get back to us if you rule out the pump and filter

 

Will do...

I was mad as a hornet when I wasted $77.00 for a 10 mile ride home and it started. The tow truck driver was like "You know, Ive heard of drivers seeing this but it took 10 years to happen." I love my truck, but Im starting to get these little problems with it like this...or the ball joints, wheel bearings, creaks, moans, rattles, coils (I had three hold down bolts broke off and had to weld nuts on them...pain in the *** to get the stinger in there), etc BUT Im glad that the engine and transmission work just fine with 145,XXX miles.

Oh, and what about there being two fuel pumps or just one?

 

One pump.... I had problems with my ex's '01 Malibu (wouldn't start) so I towed it to my dads to used the garage and wouldn't ya know, the ****er started right up.. all that work putting it up on the trailer and it starts? Lol never found the problem cuz it always started after that Haha. Don't worry, after a while everything will be new again and you'll get another 100k out of the parts Haha

 

Welcome to the story of my life...

 

i have had the exact same problem and my gear indicator is off a bit as well i took her in to the shop and had them test fuel delivery and could not find any problems...it hasn't happend since and doesnt happen very often but i think it has something to do with the gear shifter

 

Well, I have changed anything yet because I want to duplicate the problem. Fuel pump primes...and besides...fuel pumps dont just slowly go in my experience, they just fall on their face and quit all of a sudden. I opened the relay box and was able to push a couple down. I dont think its the Schrader valve either. It hasnt happened since I pushed all the relays down firmly.

 

sounds like a fuel pump to me. They seem to stop working in the cold when they are going out, then when it warms up they work again.

oh and if the truck thought it wasn't in P or N it wouldn't even turn over.