I have a 2002 Ford f150 4x4 that died while driving down the road. It cranks normally but will not start. That morning the oil light came on and oil pressure gauge dropped to zero but I had plenty of oil and the light went off and the gauge went back to normal. It did that several times that day but later made a whirring sound just before dying. Any suggestions on what it could be? Or how to find out? I cannot afford to take it to the shop or to just start replacing a bunch of things that do not fix the problem, and this is my only source of transportation for me and my
daughter.

 

The fuel pressure is easy to check at the schrader valve on the fuel rail. Check that first to find out if it is a fuel problem. You may be able to borrow a gauge from an auto parts store. Have someone turn on the ignition and listen to see if the pump is running. And if it is running that doesn't mean it has enough pressure. Should be 28 psig or a little more. Check the codes.

 

How many miles, what kind of engine?

For starters, follow Roadie's advice.

Have you changed the fuel filter?

 

Roadies advice is spot on!

Another thing to check is the air filter and clean the MAF sensor....I had this happen, I was running a Fram air filter and the glue on the plastic dome of the air filter gave up and allowed paper filter material to tear off, well it just so happen that some landed on the MAF sensor and shut it ( the engine) off like a switch. I was able to clean the MAF sensor and drop in a new air filter & it started back up. That experience is why I don't get Fram anything ever again