Starting issue 1989 f-150
 

I have 1989 ford f-150 Lariat Super cab 8ft bed 5.0L 4X4. This truck needs some love. I have a current issue that just started with the cold weather. The problem is it won't start in general. Everything comes on and i hear the pumps prime. But when i put it into the start sequence i hear nothing currently recently when i tried i hear a hum sound and now nothing. It did start once when i tried but i think i need to change the starter. I don't have a lot of money to go swap parts out and i know i have to put some money into this truck to make it a awesome truck. But any help would be much appreciated.

You're probably going to be pulling the starter. Make sure whether it's getting power when you turn the key, but it could just be the starter solenoid or the drive gear. Those things are repairable

Ok so i changed the starter solenoid and the starter. So after putting it all together i had the battery terminal + go to one side and negative to the other and on the S side i put the ignition wire on it. When i went to turn it over i heard the fuel pump turn on and the lights come on and turned it over to start i hear a click, something like the starter trying to engage but nothing goes. It makes the lights go out and everything. In order to reset i have to take disconnect and reconnect the battery.

Negative goes to the frame and block. Sometimes rather than the block it will go to one of the bolts that hold the starter on. It does not go to any electrical connection other than battery ground (-).
If that's hooked up properly, it may just be one of your connections is dirty or loose. Unhook them and clean them up real good - shiny metal to shiny metal (all of them, including the ground connection and the battery terminals) and reinstall them snugly.

Might want to have battery tested

Ya i got my battery tested the only problem is the original owner bought a smaller battery with a slight less cranking amps. It was fine but low in charge. SO i put it on a slow charge for two days. It works fine.
I will try looking at my negative wire to and from the battery and starter to make sure each connection is fine.

So i changed the battery since it was causing so many problems and now starts up on its own just fine. Butt only once a day lol. So After i start it up and if i can get it out of park with out it stalling. It runs well til it is turned off. After that it will take a while for it to start again. I think that problem can be resolved by the tfi module? Does that sound right?

Pull the codes. Unless you can afford to just throw parts at it and hope.

I feel your pain
 

I also have the same or similar issues with my 89 ford f150 xlt lariat efi 5.8. Ran fine for 5 years then one day backing out of the driveway it started to sputter so i pulled it back in the driveway and took a different car to work. The following day I get in, turn the key, hear the fuel pumps energize and get a crank no start issue. Checked for spark and was getting it from the spark plugs. I even tried starting fluid in the intake and the truck fired right up. So I think okay, Fuel. Checked the schrader valve on the fuel rail to see if I had pressure, yes. Put the key to run and checked the schrader valve again and got a constant stream of gas. I then pulled and checked the PCM and fuel relay with a meter and power, they both checked out. Went and pulled OBD codes with engine off and got two, a 22 and 95. So I am in the process of checking ground wires and wishing I could find out exactly what components are grounded and where those grounds are located. This truck has a very deep sentimental value to me otherwise I would just sell it off. I was told a few things that may be occurring, Possible bad pick up coil in the distributor, fusible link on the starter bad, fuel pump not grounded possibly a broken wire. All i can say is hang in there my friend, there are so many people that are smarter than we are and are willing to share good will, guidance and experience to help you out. If I hear of anything that could possibly resolve your problem I will be sure to give you a heads up. Good Luck!

Re tomstruck - I feel your pain ; It's a fairly common mistake to push the button on the schrader valve and see a stream of fuel and assume all is good there.
That worked with carburetors, but EFI requires a minimum amount of pressure. The example would be that 20 psi will shoot gas 6 feet into the air - but it won't run the truck. The injectors don't spray at that low of a pressure. They might drip a little, but they don't spray, and they need to.
The only way to check fuel pressure is with a gauge. I broke down a couple years ago and bought one for like $60 and I've used it a dozen times on different vehicles. Pressure is correct - pressure is not correct. No question. It's saved me way more money than it cost.