Engine cranks but won't start

Tiny
BRONC
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 FORD BRONCO
  • 170,000 MILES
He was on his way home from a football game when the truck suddenly stopped running. He got it to the side of the freeway - the starter cranks (truck has fuel). What are the known common things to check? The in-tank filter seems to be fine.
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 AT 7:41 PM

55 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Have the fuel pressure checked to see if it is fuel related.

This guide can help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

check for spark as the coil, pick up or module may have failed.

Roy
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Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 AT 7:43 PM
Tiny
BRONC
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Will do both Roy as soon as it stops downpouring rain here.I'll let you know. Thanks Roy.

-Michael
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Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 AT 7:48 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Good luck
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Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 AT 7:51 PM
Tiny
BRONC
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  • 5 POSTS
K. Just verified that we have spark. The fuel pump relay is operable. No fuel at all to rail. Cannot hear anything when ignition key is turned to start from the in-tank fuel pump. We just changed this out a little over a year ago. Will a fuel pump just die while you're running? How do I check power to the fuel pump (Pins)? Next steps?
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Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 AT 11:22 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Go to the inertia switch which is either on the rf kick panel on the passenger side or in the back trunk when you open the gate.
There should be power there for 2 seconds with the key on.

Roy
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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 AT 1:34 AM
Tiny
BRONC
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My apologies for not mentioning Roy.I checked the inertia switch. Obviously not tripped and there is power when key is on.
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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 AT 2:24 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Then most likely you have a bad fuel pump.

Roy
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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 AT 3:03 AM
Tiny
BRONC
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  • 5 POSTS
UUUggghh. Thank you Roy.A fuel pump going bad while driving?

Please pass on Autozones after-market parts are not the answer.
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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 AT 3:10 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Yep. I work at pepboys and we have the same issues with carter pumps. Try to stay away from them. Its more money to get a new ford pump but well worth it in the end.

Roy
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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 AT 3:12 AM
Tiny
WILL WHALEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 FORD BRONCO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 138,000 MILES
My 1995 Bronco 5.8l ran beautiful but now it will not start.I hooked the code reader up and itells me system passed. The engine turns over but it will not even try to start.

Thanks
Will Whaley
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
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Hi Will Whaley,

Thank you for the donation.

When engine refuses to start, there are basic items that you need to check, such as missing sparks or fuel. Click the following link and check out the symptoms listed. Go through the ones that matches your symptoms and find out what is missing. Let me know what you find and I will assist you from there.

https://www.2carpros.com/kpages/first_things.htm
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZIGGY501
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1995 FORD BRONCO
  • 0.5L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
I have a 1995 Ford Bronco with a 5.0, it will not start. How do I test the coil to see if it is working properly. The coil has 2 wires going to it
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
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All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment.
If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money.

Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for.

These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause.

1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester. If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on.

2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on.

3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off.

4) If all of these things check good, then you would need to do a complete compression test.

Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out,
you will know which system is having the problem.
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DTOWARD
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  • 1995 FORD BRONCO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
Bronco will not start after a car wash. I drive truck home just fine less than a mile and after it sits for a couple hours no start. (It does have spark) I have replaced coil, distributor, pick up coil, cap, rotor. I do hear a constant whining of the fuel pump when this occurs.
Normally fuel pump builds pressure and quiets down after a few seconds. I Let it sit overnight and it started just fine. Vapor lock?
Electrical Short on fuel tank? Help? It runs fine but this is a Bronco and is supposed to be able to take the elements. Temp this morning was 15 degrees.
I also checked all connections under the hood and no problems. This only happens when going through a automatic car wash. Three times now. (Update)
Car started check engine light on. Misfiring and hesitation. No power gutless. This happened about half hour after starting for the first time fully warmed up.
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi:
I feel the fuel pump is ok. If I had to guess, I would say plug wires, distributor. Have you replaced the ignition wires (If not, I would recommend that)? When the problem occurrs, does the vehicle fire at all or just crank? If you give it a shot of starting fluid will it run for a few seconds? Also, is the spark you see a strong snaping blue spark or is it more white or orange? Finally, at night time, I want you to mist the engine with water and try to start it. If there is a short, you will see it in the dark.

If the check engine light is on, lets start there. Take the vehicle to a nationally recognized parts store and have them scan the computer for codes. Chances are they will tell you it's a multiple missfire code, but they may come up with a different one.

Finally, does your Bronco have an ignition module on the side of the distributor?

Let me know,

Joe
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DTOWARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Joe

Thanks for the ideas. Turns out that one of the wires that controls the fuel injectors was corroded.
(at the wiring harness connector)

The whole ignition system was replaced. So I was getting good spark.

Regards.
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:29 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STATISQUOTE
  • MEMBER
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  • 1995 FORD BRONCO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 124,000 MILES
Hi, this is a 351 engine which stopped running as I went down the road. I was low on gas possibly dry completlely and I put 5 gallons in and it wouldnt start back up. It turns over and over but is unable to catch. I purchased an ignition coil which didnt fix the problem. I also checked the spark wires (new) by one of those light testers which told me there's no spark at all. It seems that there isnt any juice being dispersed to the plug wires which could very well be the distibutor but Im sure that the cap and rotor are fine so it should be something else. Can you help me? Thank you very much for your time.
-Matthew W-
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Sounds like the fuel pump is no more good, running a pump out of gas is a good way to kill it.

And I would suspect it is bad since it hasnt restarted since its died out from no gas.
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STATISQUOTE
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Thank you alot for your knowledge on this, I appreciate your immediacy.

-Matt-
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
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Your welcome, and hope you find your problem out.
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Sunday, October 20th, 2019 AT 4:30 PM (Merged)

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