Stopped for lunch (about 45 min.), when I returned to start my 1996 F150 (4.9L engine) it just fires once or twice and stops. After trying several times it quit firing altogether except for an occational firing. Engine still cranks strong. This came out of the blue with no warning. It drove perfectly before I stopped. I haven't had any repair work done for over a year so no one has been under the hood. I checked the iniertia switch. It was OK. Truck has 75000 miles on it. Help I'm stuck. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Fuel pump maybe? Check that and the filter. Then check for spark. Coil wire come loose perhaps?

-Flea

 

I had a similar issue with my 96. Sometimes it would crank and crank and wouldn't start. Didn't make any difference if it was cold or hot. I would let it set for a little while and sometimes it would start right up. Sometimes not. Occasionally it would just quit running and wouldn't start. (Nice in traffic). Same drill. Let it sit for awhile and it might start. Never once threw any kind of diagnostic code so I had to cruise the forums and guess. Replaced the coil, distributor cap, plugs, wires, crank sensor, idle air control valve, battery, No joy. One morning it quit on me at the local convenience store and a local mechanic happened to be there. He helped me push it out of the way and gave me a ride to work. Came back after the truck fully intending to tow it to his shop. It started right up. He took it in and spent the entire day trying to get it to quit again. It finally threw a code. Ended up replacing the distributor. It's been fine (in that aspect anyway) ever since. All this was about a year and a half ago.

 

After an 8 year old thread....I would hope he got it fixed by now...if he still even has it.

 

Didn't pay any attention to the date. Excuse me...............

 

Common error...have done it myself before..Don't feel bad.