My 99 sport wouldn't start about six weeks ago. That was the first time ever since I owned the car. It cranked but did not run. I was in a hurry so I used another vehicle. When I retrned sometime later it cranked right over. I shut it off and then try to start it again and again and it worked every time. Last week it acted up once more and would not start but like before (the next day) started right up. It is working fine now. I am sure that this will happen again. Every time I need to go somewhere I cross my fingers and hope it will start when I turn the key. Does any have any idea what mught be going on?

 

Maybe fuel pump relay, try swapping it with one next to it see if problem moves.

 

Remember this golden rule, engines won't start for 2 major reason....no spark or no fuel.

When it is a random event as you have described, it is prpbably not the spart issue. When it goes, it goes!

Fuel devivery is another story. very common for it to be OK during start at one time, and not at another.
I suspect your electric fuel pump is about to go out on you. It could be the fuel pump relay as mentioned in previous reply, but it is usually the fuel pump, and the bad side is, it is not cheap, not to mention it is located inside the fuel tank!

Try this...before you crank the engine, turn off radio and roll up windows so you can hear very well. Turn the key from OFF to the ON position and listen carefully, You should hear an audilble...."SSSSSHHH..clunk" from the gas tank area. That is the sound of the electric fuel pump running and building up pressure until it cuts off automatically. It happens EVERY time you turn the key from OFF to ON...every time, that is if the fuel pump and relay are OK.

Everytime you hear this sound, go ahead and crank. Engine will start every time if your real problem is the fuel pump or relay.
The first time you do not hear this sound, go to crank and if engine does not start, you have just proven the problem is fuel pump or relay. Sometimes you can wait a few minutes and do the OFf to ON thing over and over until you ear that SSSSSSHHH.clunk. It will start every time after that!

The cause is the electric fuel pump brushes have worn down so far they dont't make contact to start the pump when the fuel pump stops at just the right (in your case, wrong) spot!!

Good luck!

I sugguest you take to a reputable shop or dealer and pay he $400-600 and get the pump changed out. Otherwise you may break down in then middle of nowhere!

 

replace fuel filter, i had H2O in my t bird filter

 

If it's your pump, then I personally would replace it myself. Of course my old explorers were rusted and well used, so i just flipped the driver side 2nd seat forward and cut a 6"x6" hole back side/next to the larger seat, popped the lines off with the line tool and removed the ring and pump. Once replaced,( I had to replace one of the lines "guts"), lock it in with the ring and lock on the lines. Made a patch bigger than the hole and screwed it down covering the hole.

Ive done it the other way too, but you just need to get the tank as empty as possible. jack up or use ramps to get the rear off the ground, put jackstands under it for safty. Diconnect the filler and breather lines above the rear axle. Then put a nice floor jack under the tank. undo the bolts holding the skidplate. While balancing this whole thing, lower it down with the jack. You may be able to reach the ring and unit while under the vehicle. Just need the ford fuel line tool which is cheap to unlock the lines.
Getting the pump and lines swapped is easy, re-aligning the skidplate/tank to the vehicle is fun. I used longgggg bolts and pulled it back up into position, then replaced em one at a time with the right bolts. reconnect the filler and breather lines and thats that.