Truck wont start

[SF58]

Hi All,


I'm new to this forum so a shout out to all! "Whats up!!"


I'm not a pro mechanic but have known enough about cars to work on them for the pst 25 yrs, so know my way around them pretty well (old school anyway). My apologieds if I ask or sound stupid about something, but I prefer to sound stupid for a couple of minutes, than to be stupid forever by not asking.


I have a 2001 F150 XLT Supercab, 4.2lt, automatic, 2WD.


Bought it for my son about 5 years ago and he beat it into the ground as most teenagers would. Now it's been sitting for a while (5 months or so). As with most youngsters, he didnt take too good care of it, so I'm taking it back to fix and keep it for myself! Too Bad For Him!


I was able to start it about a month or so ago but it was really hard to start. I had to use starting fluid to get it started, and it was still tough to get it to start, but once started and warmed up it ran fine.


Now I tried to start it again and it kicks over and wont start. I tried the same with the starting fluid and it almost starts and dies. I think I used a little too much starting fluid because after a while of trying and spraying starting fluid, I got a hard backfire that sounded like a shotgun that was strong enough to pop off the MAF Sensor and throw it about 10 feet. I nearly crapped my pants! It looks clean and undamaged but I hope I didnt damage the MAF Sensor when if hit the ground.


The truck sounds like its sarving for fuel, so Im not sure if the fuel pump relay is going or has gone bad, or if its the fuel pump. Any ideas of how to check these items without making it a huge project to diagnose?


Once I can get it to start easily, I have a couple of questions about the trouble code that keeps coming back P0174. That was the original problem with it before the starting problem. The diagnostic says that it is lean in bank 2 but a mechanic friend of mine said something about a vacuum leak.


Open to suggestions, folks...


Thanks,
SF58