Okay, 2001 F-150 SuperCrew w/ 5.4 112k on the odometer, runs great, regular maintanence performed and truck used for light pulling occasionally. Recently (past 6mo or so) after driving truck long enough to get it warm I will turn truck off and go run an errand (truck off for less than 5 minutes) and when I return to restart it it begins to shudder and stumble and eventually die. Then subsequent attempts at restarting result in either no attempt at firing or the stumble and shudder routine. I have found that if I leave it alone for 30 minutes or so and go back and try to fire it up again it has absolutely no problem and acts as though nothing ever happened. The is no CEL or other outward signs of trouble before or after this happening. This little event has happened 4 times in the past 3 months and just this afternoon I had to WALK home, leaving a dead Ford behind. How can I begin to troubleshoot this issue? Almost acts like it is loading up on the initial atempt at starting and the waiting allows for dissapation of the flooded cylinders (?) but there is no big black cloud after it re-fires. Sorry this is so long, but the more information the better, right? Thanks in advance for any assistance you all might be.

 

Try starting it with your foot on the floor - that should shut off the injectors.

 

Just walked down to the truck and tried that and no luck. With the pedal depressed the engine does not even catch (no stumble, no shudder). When I let off the pedal it tries to catch and stumbles and shudders and dies. I have begun checking all the fuses, but that seems highly unlikely as this is so very intermittent. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

Try a KOEO fuel pressure reading. Can you hear the fuel pump prime with the gas cap off?

 

Do i need a tool for the pressure testing? This is the longest that it has been w/o starting. I have re-tried it 3 times now. I have very limited resources right now and would have to try and rent a tester if one was necessary. Thanks.

 

yes you will need a fuel pressure gauge. can you hear the pump at all? are you using the factory key? is the security light on? how olds the fuel filter? can you hear the fuel pump relay click? is the fuel pump relay hot? swap the fuel pump relay with the horn relay and see if it works then. i'm pretty sure they are the same relay.

 

I just tried the relay swap with no luck. I had the wife turn the key and heard NOTHING from the filler neck and I even laid under the truck directly under the tank and heard nothing. The pump relay is not hot to the touch at all now, I don't know if it was when this started (or didn't start in my case). I am using the factory key and I am not certain on the security light. The oddest thing about this whole situation is the truck got me from work to the post office (9 miles) and then wouldn't start. There is 5/8 a tank of gas in it. I will get to autozone this evening to rent a tester and post the readings shortly. Just for my information, what should the readings be and the tester screws onto the schrader (sp?) valve, right? Thanks again for all the help.

 

If you can't hear the fuel pump I wouldn't worry about the fuel pressure gauge.

 

So, I got it towed home today (by a Chevy) and got the pressure gauge hooked to it. No pressure. Started off cheap (filter) and struck it rich. At least I thought so. The truck fired right up and ran smoothly so I thought it's all good, right? Well checked the gauge that was still hooked up and showed 9-12 psi at the schrader (sp?) valve on the right side of the injector rail. Not good. Parked it in the garage after several laps around the neighborhood (no problems) I even broke them loose a couple of times to test if it would stumble at all. After letting her sit for 15 minutes or so I attempted restarting it and NO luck. Now I guess I will bite the bullet and replace the pump. Being as intermittent as it is could it possible be anything else? Electrical? BTW, the filter was a little difficult to blow through after removing it, but not completely blocked up. Thanks again for all the help 'round here.

 

So, the fuel pump has been replaced (what a PITA!!) and now my pressure reads 40 at the manifold. Runs like a champ and starts up every time. I want to thank those who offered help and direction!

 

I had the same symptoms and went through all th obvious checks before replacing the pump. I was waiting on good weather also, being cold while doing this would be no fun.

I just replaced my fuel pump yesterday and I agree it was a PITA. I had to do it alone and on the ground, but 7 hours later, it's all in and running good for now.

For all the members having these symtoms, check fuses, relay and the fuel cutoff switch. If these are ok, then the pump is your problem.

 

I have all the same symptoms.
The chevy tow truck driver asked me if I knew what FORD spelled backwards meant.

Driver
Returning
On
Foot

I'm dreading the fuel pump swap.

 

This is why changing the fuel filter every year is an excellent idea. Dont want that pump working so hard to maintain fuel pressure. My 97 van with 210k on it has the oridginal pump probably because the filter gets replaced every year.

 

According to my records I'm on my fifth fuel filter at 110,000 miles.
I read the recommended replacement was 30,000.

So are you saying that fuel filter replacement has more to do with time rather than mileage?

Mileagewize you and I are replacing at about the same rate.
Timewise, you replace yearly and I replaced every two years.
Is that what cost me my pump?

 

I have always replaced them on mileage alone. I would think they get clogged from driving them and not sitting.

I have found that pump life is also related to how much you drive around with less than 1/4 tank of gas. The gas in the tank cools the pump so the less you have the less cooling you get.