Hard starting

Hello,

This sounds like you have low fuel pressure.
Here are a couple of guides to help us get started fixing your problem:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-cranks-excessively-before-starting

The fuel pressure should be about forty five pounds you can rent a gauge set from the auto parts store for free. Also, does this truck have dual tanks?

Please run some tests and get back to us.

Cheers, Ken

engine hits but does'nt catch and if you press the gas pedal when it first hits and takes off it floods it.

Start by checking the fuel pressure with a fuel pressure tester if its within specs

Engine Mechanical problem
1993 Ford F150 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 199000 miles

I have a 1993 F150 with two tanks. Recently the rear tank fuel pump went out. Now when I go to start the truck it acts as if it wants to turn over but doesn't. I hear the fuel pump ingaging and I have to do it twice before it cranks. Once the truck is running on occasion it will sputter then shut off and I have to start the process all over again. I am going to replace both fuel pumps but wonder if I have a problem with the injectors.

On the trucks that have two tanks each tank has a fuel pump but then they feed into an external fuel pump then to the engine. I would check that uel pump. The ones in the tanks I beleive are called the low pressure fuel pumps and the external one is the high pressure. Check you fuel pressure to see if it is within specs.

Changed the radiator and thermostat. Now truck won't start. Changed battery. Starter, solenoid. fuel filter less than six months old.

Are you getting spark and fuel to the engine?

forgot to mention that it has a relatively new distributor and wires. Could it be plugs?

Anything is possible. However, before I do anything, I would identify the circuit which is causing the problem and that requires checking for spark and fuel to the engine.

An easy way to check is by using starting fluid. If it starts for a couple seconds with starting fluid, then you know the engine isn't getting fuel. If it doesn't, there is no spark at the plugs.

Thanks for your help. I'll try that before replacing the fuel pump.

Since it wont start with staiting fluid does that mean the problem is the plugs or distributor ?

IT sounds like you aren't getting spark to the plugs. Confirm that and then we will need to do further checks. Chances are it is a crank sensor.

STARTS OK WHEN COLD, AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING, STOPPING FOR 15 MINUTES, THEN RESTART IS VERY HARD. SOUNDS LIKE TRUCK RUNNING ON 2 CYLINDERS FOR A MINUTE OR SO.
THEN IT KICKS IN RUNS ok WITH SLIGHT KNOCKING LIKE BEFORE. WEATHER IS HOT IN THE 90'S

Jeff:

Have you confirmed that the fuel pressure is within spec?

Thanks. I'll try that.

I am experiencing an engine that is hard to start and when I get it started started it runs really rough and misfires. I read somewhere that it may be the ECM. They said to disconnect the battery for 30 minutes to reset the ECM. I put the battery back in and it started perfect and ran smooth. Once I turned it off and tried to start it I had problems and it ran rough again. This problem is intermittent. Any thoughts?

You have confirmed that there is a problem when the engine is running the learned programs in the ECM. Now you can read out the diagnostic trouble codes stored in the ECM and learn what that problem is.

The directions on how to do this are [url=https://www.2carpros.com/articles/ford-lincoln-mercury-obd1-1995-and-earlier-diagnostic-trouble-code-definition-and-retrieval]here[/url]. You should be able to read the problem codes on your check-engine light. Or you can take the vehicle to an auto parts house and ask them to read the codes out for you.

SA

Engine Performance problem
1993 Ford F150 V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 88000 miles

p/u runs and starts fine if used every day, however after sitting for 2 to 3 days it is very hard to start, crank and crank before it will fire

Try this as a test. Turn key on for ten seconds, then off repeat 5-6 times, then see if it starts. If it works, test fuel pump pressure and fuel pressure regulator. Click this link for instructions!

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

1993 F150 with 232k miles on it. Recently as the weather has started to get colder the truck has been idling very low. It has also been struggling to start. It idles fine in park and neutral but idles low in drive or reverse. When in drive or reverse the alternator is not providing power to the battery and the lights dim when not being driven. If the truck is being driven everything works fine. I was assuming that since the alternator was not providing power to the battery, it may be killing the battery and the cause to the bad starts. Is this actually an idle issue or a larger issue? Does anyone know of a fix to this issue?

You may have a bad IAC ( idle air control) but try cleaning the throttle body first. Remove the intake snorkel, have someone hold the throttle wide open for you and scrub the back side of the throttle plate and surrounding bore with an old tooth brush and some carb cleaner. Be sure to spray some into the small holes next to the throttle plate. That should help stabilize the idle. If it still has a problem, replace the IAC.