Hard starting

Tiny
MIKEMCL720
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 FORD F-150
  • 5.0L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 207,000 MILES
Truck runs rough, hard start after running, high idle, chugs/stalls on acceleration from a stop normal driving. Have replaced IAC, TPS and MAP no changes. No vacuum leaks found. Engine light comes on on start up sometimes but goes off when warm. Truck starts right up in colder weather but after running wants to stall when accelerating from a stop. When it stalls I have to crank engine with pedal to the floor to get it started.
Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 AT 7:55 AM

21 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
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
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
IRISH_STR469
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 FORD F-150
  • 257,828 MILES
Engine hits but does'nt catch and if you press the gas pedal when it first hits and takes off it floods it.
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Start by checking the fuel pressure with a fuel pressure tester if its within specs
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EPARISH
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 FORD F-150
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 199,000 MILES
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.
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BDOGG0070
  • MECHANIC
  • 42 POSTS
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.
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAAADU2
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1993 FORD F-150
  • 4.9L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 187,000 MILES
Changed the radiator and thermostat. Now truck won't start. Changed battery. Starter, solenoid. Fuel filter less than six months old.
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Are you getting spark and fuel to the engine?
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAAADU2
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Forgot to mention that it has a relatively new distributor and wires. Could it be plugs?
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
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.
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAAADU2
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks for your help. I'll try that before replacing the fuel pump.
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAAADU2
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Since it wont start with staiting fluid does that mean the problem is the plugs or distributor?
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
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.
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JEFF STEVENS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 FORD F-150
  • 190,000 MILES
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
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Jeff:

Have you confirmed that the fuel pressure is within spec?
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MAAADU2
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks. I'll try that.
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 1993 FORD F-150
  • 135,000 MILES
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?
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STRICTLYAMATEUR
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
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 here. 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
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ELDON MCINTYRE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 88,000 MILES
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
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
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
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHARGER4130
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1993 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 232,000 MILES
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?
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Sunday, December 3rd, 2017 AT 8:54 PM (Merged)

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