04' won't start??? Help......
 

Folks, I need some help please. Yesterday my 04' 5.4, Lariat 4X4 would start up at first, run for about a minute then die. I'd try to start it again, it idled real funny for about 20 seconds then die. This morning I cleaned/sprayed out the mass air flow sensor?? To see what would happen, it started, idled fine, I let it idle for about 10-15min, no problems. Later I went out to test drive it, it started, idled for about 3 minutes, then died, and now it won't fire up at all?? It'll turn over but won't start?? Any help??? Please... A great X-Mas present for me, my toy broke down.
I put a new battery in it about a month back, getting ready for winter. No other issues with her... got 84K miles and is in perfect condition, except for the starting problem.

(and the 'cuminer2003' ID stands for Copper 'CU' Miner 2003, I get alot of comments back for it. I should change it but... Just haven't)

Thanks folks.

I'm not even close to a mechanic, but if it still turns over I would think fuel pump. May possibly even be as simple as a fuel filter. Just some ideas. If its none of that and you get it figured out i would be interested in knowing what it is. Hope you get her fixed quick!

You posted this in the V8 section. Cross posting makes it more difficult for people to help you.

Sorry about that, I wasn't sure which section to thread in??

Thanks. I'm not much of a mechanic either, maybe a 3 on a scale 1 to 10. I changed the fuel filter last year. I'll get underneath it and listen for the fuel pump to whine when the key is turned, I don't remember it ever whining but I would think it should make some kind of sound when the key is turned over???
Any help out there would be greatly appreciated. Kind of sucks, I actually had this day off, first one in years, and I was gonna get it all cleaned up. We actually have some nice weather today here Salt Lake for a change. Thanks again.

I'd check fuel pump, fuel filter and/or fuel pump driver module.

Wifes ford taurus had the same exact problem. (i have a 2004 f150) Took it to dealer. They found out it was the cam shaft synchonizer that failed. ($700)
But i got screwed on that one ,, there's a video on net on how to replace it. Part is around $300. Looks easy to replace. 3/4 bolts. It takes the place of the old rotor and cap assembly with a rod with gear on end that goes down into engine and regulates gas/spark off the cam shaft. Engine did not throw a code though,, mechanic just knew what it was. Good luck. jop

yep, sounds like Cam Shaft Sensor.

This couldn't be from a bad alternator as well??

When key is turned to on the fuel pump makes a whine click noise to prime the fuel system. If is does not make that then check for spark if there is no spark. Then a sensor issue is what you have.

I think the pump is intermittent?? Sometimes I can hear it, sometimes not?? I went ahead and dropped the tank yesterday, believe me it's not alot of fun, those connections on top of the tank are a bit$$. Anyway, finally got the tank down, went to install the new pump I purchased from NAPA and it doesnt fit with the ford factory assembly. So, I'm buying a whole new ford assembly today and hopefully it'll just drop down in the tank?? Then, I hope it was the problem to begin with?? I got a new pump assembly at costs (knew a guy who works at ford), $310.00. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress, wish me luck.

But you didn't try again? Make SURE you do before you power up that new fuel pump.

It threw a code P0191, no check engine light though. Sometimes you can hear the fuel pump whine when you turn the key, other times you can't? We dropped the tank yesterday and the new fuel pump assembly is going in today? I'll let you folks know if it was the pump or not??
Food for thought, if you ever change out a fuel pump, buy the whole assembly, not just the pump & strainer. If you buy an aftermarket pump it doesn't fit right into the stock assembly. Either buy a Ford or aftermarket assembly. I'm taking back the pump I purchased from NAPA and bought a ford pump & assembly. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the info.

check fuel check spark and check compression if ones missing start tracing backwards to the problem. with a p0191 i would have started with a fuel filter.

HERE'S THE END OF MY STORY, PLEASE READ AND IT MIGHT SAVE YOU SOME $$'s:
My 04’, 5.4, 84K miles, F-150 had problems staying running. It would run intermittent, rough idle, and then finally die. It felt like it just wasn’t getting fuel properly. We started troubleshooting, new fuel filter, the fuel module was getting power to it (we couldn’t find a way to check if it was putting power out to the fuel pump), and then finally the fuel pump itself, which would kick on with its whining sound off/on, sometimes I could hear it, other times I couldn’t. No ‘check engine’ lights but it did throw a code for low rail fuel pressure, I think it was P0191. So, we thought we narrowed it down to the fuel pump? Learn from my mistake and you might just save yourself some money.
After we got the new fuel filter installed (don’t ever buy a non-stainless steel filter, if you buy a cheap one they rust/corrosion out and that’s not good), we got the new fuel pump installed (if you buy an aftermarket fuel pump you need to buy the whole assembly, most pumps will not fit into the factory assembly, and if you buy a ford pump its’ a pain trying to place it back in the old assembly, my advice, buy a new assembly if you have to) and the truck still wouldn’t run. We ran a laptop on it, still no fuel pressure?? We checked the fuel module that mounts up by the spare tire, it had power going to it as well? We were baffled?? In all this confusion, throwing tools, cussing, etc. I decided to pull off that module just to take a look at it, I dropped the spare tire down a bit and pulled it off. As I was looking at it, I started messing with it and could hear stuff inside it rattling around, so I started twisting it and it broke in half, it was totally corroded inside. So, we made a late night run to the dealership for a new module. Installed it and the truck fired right up. So, if I could rewind back and figured it was this module, I would have saved myself $300.00. So, end of story, if you have the same problems, install a new Ford fuel filter first, then check that fuel module located at the spare tire (that thing gets beat to death by road debris, rattling from the frame of the truck, and rain, salt, snow, etc. not a good place for it??), then you can move to the fuel pump. If you have to change the fuel pump, look into possibly pulling the truck bed off a bit, I think it would be easier than dropping the tank..
I hope this helps someone out there in the same predicament. Enjoy.