Just a thought here, the truck has enough gas in it right? I have seen several times on my moms car where it showed 1/8 of a tank but wouldn't start, put some gas in it and it started right up.

 

Yes, unfortunately it's almost full...discovered that once I decided I might replace the fuel pump! Of course, that's how my luck goes!

 

OK. I tried starting fluid, but still no start...just cranking, cranking,...

 

Well, I'm going to throw in the towel and take it into the shop. Wonder if the crankshaft position sensor would have anything to do with it? We shall see...

 

I ran into the same problem, it would struggle to stay on and would die. My mechanic had told me, the throttle body sensor was dirty, due to the K&N's air filter oil. I had removed the K&N and replaced it with the factory. No more problems from struggling or dying. Since you have over 187k miles, you might want to check the sensors and/or the relays. Hope you get it back up and running.

 

You mean the mass airflow sensor?

 

Scheduled to go in the shop Thursday but in still researching everything I can. Right now I'm reading up on crank position sensor. Any thoughts as to if this could finally be the answer? Fairly cheap part but a PAIN to get to it...

 

I know it sounds simple, but have you checked the oil level? Low oil level will create low oil pressure, motor will shut off.

 

Update from my shop says that the computer is not "communicating"...thinks it may be a PATS issue. He is still trying to figure it out, but has cautioned me that it may have to go to the dealer. He said that reprogramming/replacing the theft computer piece can only be done there because he can't even get parts numbers from Ford. We shall see.

 

UPDATE...Please offer comments!

My mechanic couldn't find anything concrete that was wrong except many communication error codes (I don't have them). He checked compression and all looked good, so he tentatively ruled out a timing issue. I have never had any problems with the cam phasers, and very little of the infamous rattle associated. He suggested to take it to Ford as I've stated previously.

Ford calls today and says it has good fuel pressure (which I knew), and that the computer is communicating with the fuel injectors because the fuel injectors are firing (which I knew also because my mechanic changed plugs and they were obviously getting fuel). The Ford house says they can take the timing cover off to verify ( $1000 labor) and it may or may not be the issue.

I'm stuck as to what to do. I'm not trusting the Ford house much at all...

 

Wanted to give a final update on this thread in case anyone else runs into similar problems. It appears that a timing chain guide broke off on one side, causing just enough slack to jump out of time. Before I decided to go forward with fixing (new guides/phasers, etc), my mechanic did a compression leak down test on the failed side...bad news...low compression. Given the age and mileage of my truck, I decided not to pursue fixing, and a new motor with old transmission and other drivetrain components doesn't seem wise to me. Gonna sell it as is and get what I can get, which we know will be nothing! lol

 

Tex sorry to hear how things went, but thank you for letting us know what happened. So many times a thread is never completed and you wonder what the outcome was. kinda of like missing the last page of a book.

 

I thought it tested good compression on first compression test

 

Okay, an old thread was dragged up, so I'll comment too. Seems to me if the timing was off on one side the compression would have to be off too. I think the guy just threw away a good truck that just need some timing parts.

 

Sounds like the truck was never properly diagnosed, at the independent shop, as well as Ford.

Either a buyer bought it knowing what it might take, and was willing to put time and money into it. Or a buyer got really lucky and it didn't need as much as it was first imagined