My friends 97 with the 5.4 would turn over but not start. We hooked up an extra coil and spark plug and no spark. Just about to have it towed to the dealer when we called them to see if there were any suggestions since he knew on of the techs.
The suggestion was to check the Crankshaft Positioning Sensor.
It sits on the front right of the engine between the block and the A/C compressor. To get it out of the engine he had to take out the front two bolts that hold the compressor.
We went to Auto Zone and the new part was only $11.99. They had a tester but the old one read out just like the new one so we figured for that much $$ we would try it anyway.
It cranked and started right up like nothing had ever been wrong. This part appears to have no moving parts so hard to tell how it went bad. There is an O ring on it that keeps the oil in the engine.

Just for info in case someone else has a crank and no start condition.

 

I had one go out on a 1995 Windstar... it would only run 25mph max... no matter what the throttle position... would not shift out of 2nd gear...

John

 

I know this is a long shot but does the truck have the SecuriLock key feature? My truck has this and it would finally start after about 30 min. sitting in one spot. I took it back to the dealer and they replaced a chip in the inginition.

 

No Securilock on this one. That was one of the first items the guy at the dealer suggested. The Crankshaft Postion Sensor was the next and that was the problem.
Makes me think there are some good techs out there afterall. He could have just said have it towed in and we will fix it. Bring money.

 

Thanx T Ellenberger, that's good to know 'cuz I have a 97 as well.

Funny how the original part checked out OK but was apparently the cause of the problem anyhow oh well, go figger? Thanx for sharing.

 

i change one for the same problem too, people came in at night about 11 pm (we work late) and ofcourse we could not get a part nor had one (people far from home) so we took one out of a used truck so that they could get on there way. The people were happy that were were able to help them out and the next day they phone back and thanked us again.

Moral of this story is that if you treat people right they will help u out, come in complaining what a piece of junk and yelling at people for things that arnt there fault won't get u that far.

Sorry for the speach but you'd be suprised how many people think the louder they yell and scream the quicker they will get their way, whats that old saying " catch more flies with honey than vinigar"

by the way the crank sensor is basically a magnet with a piece of wire wrapped around it - so testing it with resistance is a test but not really a good one (only tell u if its open, not much more )- one would have to watch the ac voltage signal for a better test but for the price just change it