My husband and I have a 2004 F150. He replaced the fuel filter several months ago. The truck has 131,000 miles on it. Sometimes it doesn't start. There is really no rhyme or reason. It wouldn't start yesterday morning and it took me 20 minutes to get it started but finally got is started last night. How do I know if it is the fuel filter or the fuel pump? please help me. Also, should we get the fuel injection system flushed? Thank you

Try turning the key to the "on" position(where the dash lights come on) 3 or 4 times before starting it. Leave it in the "on" position for anout 3 seconds each time. Then try to start it. If it starts easily, the fuel pump is starting to get weak. I am assuming the engine is turning normally when this is happening. Let us know what happens with that.

thank you for the advice. i will try that tonight.

our truck started ok today. i just don't know what is wrong with the thing. i'm assuming it has to be the fuel pump as well. it is so sporadic.

Keep us informed as to what it is doing. We need to know which is missing on the no start. Either spark or fuel will be missing. Also look at the connection to the crankshaft sensor. If the PCM does not see the engine turning, it will not give any spark.

i will ask my husband what he did when I get home. thank you so much for helping me :)

That is why they pay me the big bucks.:lol2::lol2: No problem on the helping. Like to help people that want to help themselves.

ok, so i tried the 3 second thing this morning, and it wouldn't start. it really seems to have this issue when it is cold outside. it started fine on thursday and friday. my husband said he thinks it may be something electrical. any guesses on what else it could be?

Try holding the gas pedal down just slightly. If it starts OK while holding the gas pedal down, it could possibly be the Idle Air Control motor. Really need to puta scanner on it and see what all the sensor readings are. Let us know if that helps any. Hang in there and we can fix it. Just takes a lot of time this way.

thank you. i will try that. i do the best I can to educate myself. i will let you know if that works.

Just out of curiosity, how long since last tune up?

i'm not sure, but I will ask him that too. Thank you so much for helping me :)

If we fix it, I like Makers Mark:naughty::evillol:

:):)

it started this morning after several times. yesterday afternoon it started. it is so strange how it doesn't want to start when it is cold outside.

See if he can get a scan tool that will read the sensors data. Look at the Engine Coolant Temperature sensor and the Air Temperature sensor. When they are cold, they both should read just about the same. If one is reading a lot warmer than the other, then that is probably where your problem is. Drive up the road about 5 hours and I can look at it for ya.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s214/way2old1/makers2.jpg

thank you. i wish i knew a decent place to go to where they wouldn't rip us off.

Ask around. Lots of people that are happy with their shop are really willing to talk about them. Ask your local Better Business Bureau. They might be able to help.

i will. thank you