2001 4.6 4x4

I drove about 20 min. round trip, got home and parked it. Went back half hour later and wouldn't start. Cranked fine but wouldn't catch. First thought fuel pump so I tried putting a little gas past the butterfly and it would crank and run just a moment to burn that gas and then die. I came to this forum to search thinking fuel pump but found other suggestions like the fuse and some drivers relay? Was even going to check the cut off button in the passenger foot well. So I go back out to turn the key to position 1 and listen for the fuel pump. nothing. but turn the key and the truck started. with the engine running i can hear the fuel pump. So what happened??
I also want to mention that on my way home the CEL came on. That was why I was going back out, to run to auto zone for a code read. A few months ago I changed my exhaust manifolds and the egr tube was rotted out so changed that too. That was throwing a code but has been fine since. I suspect this was something new. I'd like to run to auto zone but i'm afraid to get stuck there.


also wanted to mention, despite it saying my join date is Aug 2005, it was actually mid 2000 when I was researching he purchase of this truck which I took delivery of on Halloween 2000. I was away for years and my profile got deleted So I've been a memeber here for almost 11 years.

 

Fuel pumps can sometimes completely die and other times be intermittent. Anytime it is in question, the first thing to do is monitor the fuel pressure and see what it is doing. How many miles on it? Maintenance history?

The inertia switch is either on or off, it would not be intermittent. Get the CEL pulled... it may have exactly what your looking for. So do that first.

 

update:
i went out and it wouldn't start. waited minute and it did. waited a few minutes and again would not. banged on the tank with a rubber mallet and it almost started. banged some more and it did.
pretty much concludes its the fuel pump?
I had disconnected the battery to try resetting things and the cel came back on pretty quicly so somethings up.
It is 10 years old but has only 67k on it. Maintanance has been oil changes. coolant change. dropped tranny pan and drained tc and new filter just last summer. changed a cop years ago. changed the egr sensor few years ago too. and now recently the exhaust manifolds and egr tube.

 

It's due for a fuel filter also.

 

did that last summer.
so do you agree it's the fuel pump with only 67k on it? Should I replace the whole $200 sending unit or just the $100 pump?

 

bump

 

had issues again today. banging on the tank didn't help. after it sat about 20 min. fired right up. When I turn the key on I don't hear the fuel pump running but start it and I do.
From reading other posts I should hear it running just turning the key to the run position?

 

It only runs long enough to pressurize the system - a couple seconds max.

 

so why do i hear it running while the engine is running?
back to a an earlier question, should I replace the entire $200 unit or just the pump for $100?

 

Once the engine is running, it runs continuously.

 

Patrick, they got rid of the Excursion a while back. Didn’t need it as the kids are grown.

We are using the 2000 Expedition as our daily driver. Now has 25,480 miles in it. Runs great.