Out of ideas on 03 F150

[Smokdivr28]

I got this truck from my brother a few days ago. It is an 03 F150, 2wd, automatic, with the 4.6 triton in it. It had been sitting up for a little over a year. He had parked it because the fuel pump relay had gone out and he couldn't figure it out. I got the vast majority of the old gas out, and it was nasty. The truck had a dead miss in it, and I thought I had it narrowed down to the no 5 cylinder (was suspecting a bad coil). I tried to drive it home, but it died on me about 10 miles short. I could get it to crank in the driveway, but as soon as I put it under a load it would die. Now I can't get it to crank at all. Here is what I tried so far. I put a fuel pressure tester on it and I got 42 psi when I first turn the switch on, when the truck is turning over it bounces between 42 and 38, then when the switch is left in the run position it stays around 38. I used a ignition tester on coils 1-4 and they all had good spark. I pulled the plugs on that same side and found some were gummed up, but overall the others weren't too bad. I started on the number 1-4 side because my OBD II tester showed the following codes:1451, 0351(pending), 0354 (pending), then I had 5 incomplete readings :catlyst, evap, o2 sensor, o2 htr, and egr. It also read 3 ready: misfire, fuel, and comp. I also pulled the no 5 plug, it was gummed up but is firing good now. I pulled the no 1-4 injectors off and cleaned all 4 of them. The weather has me shut down right now, so I haven't gotten to the 5-8 side yet, but the truck still won't crank anyway. I have fuel and spark, but I'm fresh out of ideas as to why it won't crank now. I did also notice some oil in the air intake while I was messing with things. It seems like it should crank even if it runs like crap. Any ideas would be tremendously appreciated. I don't know where to start from here.

[jyount]

Clarity needed. I work with a guy from Atlanta area and he uses the same terminology. By "crank" you mean starting right? To the rest of us "crank" means turns over, not starts. I think that by the way I read it you have a bad fuel pump. Tried hitting the bottom of the tank with a big rubber hammer while someone tries to start it. Sometimes you can "jump start" a dead pump like this so you can atleast get it home without a tow bill. If that works though be warned you can only do that a couple times until the pump just won't work period....

[Smokdivr28]

Sorry about the confusion, I guess it's a southern thing. You're absolutely right, when I said crank I meant start and run. I can't get it to start. I haven't tried to bump on the fuel pump yet. I had suspected the pump, but I was thinking 40 psi was within operating range.

[big white bufflo]

if the fuel was that gummy then maybe the pickup is pluged on the pump

[Smokdivr28]

Thinking that the screen on the fuel pump might be stopped up? I'm still getting 40 psi at the fuel rail though. It sure acts like it isn't getting any fuel. I guess I could pull the injectors off and see if they're spraying. Just have to make sure I don't catch the truck on fire. That would be easier than dropping the tank (which I may very well end up having to do anway.)

[jyount]

If you have air tools, it is easier to lift the bed up if you have another guy to help. Just put towels on the back bumper to protect the paint and you only have to raise the front of the bed up a couple feet.

The pump probably is gummed up, only thing is have you ever had a carburetor apart? NO bottle cleaner will take that crap off, and if you are at the trouble of pulling it out anyway, why not replace it anyway? I don't know the specs for these things off the top of my head but I think 42 is within it, the thing that concerns me is that is drops when cranking. You said it had a dead miss too, I wonder if the injectors are gummed up too....The best plan I can give you there is to get on ebay. Fuel injection connection user has a rebuilt set for around a hundred bucks, just send your cores back........ IF they are stopped up from varnish they are all but impossible to clean out....Much easier to just replace them.

[Smokdivr28]

From the sound of it I was on the right path, or at least the right line of thinking. I appreciate the input, please keep it coming. I'll definitely keep everybody posted on any progress.

[Smokdivr28]

Another update. I tinkered with it for a few minutes today, until it just got too cold and I couldn't think of anything else to check. I pulled the injectors and left them on the fuel rail, then got my son to crank the engine so I could see if they sprayed. They looked like they have a good spray coming from them, so I guess the engine is getting fuel. I have absolutely no idea why this engine will not start.

[Smokdivr28]

I pulled the oil cap off and watched the cam turn while my wife cranked the engine, so that should alleviate the timing chain. I also put my hand over the exhaust while she was turning over the engine and it was blowing, so I'm thinking that would rule out the catalytic converter being completely stopped up. If it had a bad valve, or valves, it doesn't seem like they would all be bad enough the keep it from starting does it? As soon as it warms up I'm going to do a compression test on it. Any ideas?

[Smokdivr28]

Well I put the compression tester on three of the cylinders and here is what I got. No1 cylinder got 20 psi, No2 wouldn't even make the gauge register, and so I tried No5 and got 90 psi. I guess that explains my misfire on bank 1. I bought this truck for $500. I have about $650 total in it right now when you consider the battery and an ignition coil that I bought for it. What do you think my best course of action should be now? I can't rebuild the motor by myself, I don't have the tools and I'm just not that skilled yet anyway. I can get a crate motor and have someone put it in for me, pay someone to rebuild the motor, or try to find a used one (which I don't really trust) and pay someone to swap it out for me. The truck has 211,000 miles on it. The body is is really good shape, it is a single cab with no frills (power locks or windows), and the interior is in pretty good shape. Any suggestions?

[junkyarddawg]

Bad gas will make the valves stick.

[Smokdivr28]

Weather is still in the toilet around here so I haven't done anything to the truck. If the bad gas made the valves stick, what could I do to free them?

[big white bufflo]

pull the valve covers off and watch and see if the valve are working properly and to free them use a plastic mallet to give the valve a quick hitt it may free them up

[Smokdivr28]

I will definitely give it a try and post back with my results. Thanks.

[lilwhitelude]

It is possible that you have flooded the engine due to old plugs. replace the the plugs, pull the fuel pump fuse and make sure the fuel pump does not come on. crank it for a bit and see what happens. without new fuel coming in, the movement of air, plus spark will probably make it fire briefly. If it does that, keep cranking for a sec just to clear out all cylinders. Then put the fuel pump fuse back in crank it up. When doing a compression check, it's always good to squirt a very small amount of oil in the cylinder first. If a cylinder is fuel soaked the compression will read low or non existant. The oil will help with the rings sealing against the cylinder wall.