98 Won't start

[Steven M]

I have a 98 Mountaineer 5.0. that has sat for a couple of months,and now will not start. I checked the fuel pressure at the rail and it was very low (did not have a pressure guage, just pressed in on valve). I changed the fuel filter, now when I press in on the fuel pressure port,there is alot of fuel there. Problem is that it still will not start. Checked the spark plugs and yes, they are getting fire.
Any ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

[shorod]

Does it crank fine, just never fires? Did you pull a few plugs and check for wetness? Does the fuel smell fresh, or is it maybe old and contaminated?

-Rod

[Steven M]

It turns over and sounds normal. The fuel does not smell or look bad (looked for that when I changed the fuel filter). The plugs are dry, seems like the fuel injectors are not allowing fuel into the cylinders.

Steve

[shorod]

You may want to swing by the local chain auto parts store and "rent" a noid light kit. Install a noid light in the wiring connector for one of the injectors and crank the engine over. The noid light LED should flash corresponding to injector pulsing. If no flash, your fuel injectors are not being triggered to open. An oscilloscope would work for this check too, but a multimeter probably does not have the response time necessary to accurately show if an injector is receiving a pulse to open.

While you're at the auto parts store, you may as well "rent" the fuel pressure tester along with the Ford adapter (included with most kits).

-Rod

[Steven M]

Sorry guys I can't believe I did not share the solution to this until someone e-mailed me with a similar problem.

What I found was the anti-theft chip in the ignition key was bad. Motor would turn over, plugs would even fire, but no go. Seems that the bad chip would not allow the fuel injecters to operate.(assume) Tried the spare key and it worked fine.

Trashed the bad key.

Steve