For the past several weeks, at startup my 2000 F150 5.4 L would stumble upon startup and die. It took a couple of attempts before it fired up and maintained idle. Yesterday, it did the same thing on my first attempt to start. On the second attempt, it fired right up and idled. As I was sitting there putting on seat belt, adjusting A/C, etc. (approximately 90 seconds), the engine stumbled again and then died. Now it turns over but it doesn't sound like it is even trying to fire up. My first thought was fuel pump/fuel related. Does the board agree or are there other ideas as to where to start looking first?

 

i had an old car that used to do that. but thats because it had water in the distributer cap. so there is only two options spark or fuel. i would say try the fuel pump.

 

turn the key to on position the pump will turn for about 3 seconds to pressure up the rail another way is to check the fuel pressure check valve see if anything squirts out.

 

I did check the Schrader valve on the fuel rail and fuel just kinda spilled out instead of spraying which is what I think it should do. When the key is turned on, I can hear it the fuel pump running. Is it possible for the fuel pump to be bad and still run?

 

fuel filter could be clogged.

 

ok, now I tried to start the truck before I started working on it and it fired right up. Last night it didn't even act like it was going to start during numerous attempts (I had the truck towed home) and 18 hours later it fires right up. Also the fuel sprays out of the Schrader valve now. So what gives? Any ideas? I think I am going to go ahead and change the fuel filter.