My father has a 2003 F150 2wd with a 4.2 liter V6. The vehicle cranks and will attempt to start (read sputtering) but wont actually fire up. I checked the inertia switch, which I didn't think was the issue due to some fuel being delivered and it was fine. I removed the tube from the throttle body and shot some starting fluid in past the butterfly and the truck fired right up and ran until the fluid was used up. Another symptom is that some of the dash lights are staying on even when the key is out of the ignition, specifically the temp light, service engine light and the odometer (although its just showing horizontal lines all the way across). Any thoughts or help on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

edit... it sounds like the fuel pump is coming on.... but its hard to tell with all the ambient noise around the truck.

 

Sounds like a dorked-up fusebox or GEM, usually due to windshield leaks on the driver's side (among other things, possibly).

 

would the GEM cause the truck not to start? Also... thanks for your quick reply.

 

To give an update.... it turns out the truck had two different issues that appeared at the same time. The fuel pump had gone bad, as well as the water leak getting into the GEM. Replaced the fuel pump and it fires up every time, once the rain stopped the dash lights went back to normal. Now to fix the windshield and clean up the fuse box/GEM. GOOD TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!