Picked up a beater 2001 F150 4.2 L 2 wheel drive to play with. Replaced slave cylinder, clutch, fly wheel and starter. Tried to start and found fuel pump shot. We replaced that and the truck would start on first try. When shut down it would only crank on restart. I had a code for Cam shaft positioning sensor so we replaced both crank shaft positioning sensor, cam shaft positioning sensor and cam shaft synchronizer. Truck again fired up first try and ran smooth. Again when shut off and immediately restarted it will just crank and not even sputter. We have fuel at the rail and weak spark. Ether no help as it does not even cough. No codes found on OBD II reader.

When truck is allowed to sit overnight it will fire up for one try then following attempts are met with just cranking again.

Could the no start problem be the PCM?

 

Since you are getting some kind of spark , but not hot enough to fire the plugs make sure the connections to the coil are clean. Check all the grounds for the ign system good possibility coil is in question.

 

Went out this morning after the truck sat cold all night and fired right up. I again allowed it to idle for about 5 minutes and shut her down and it would not start. For $66.00 I'm going to replace the coil and see if once hot it is not allowing the restart. Keeping my fingers crossed. Prior to this I am going to start and
immediately shut it down to see if it will restart.

 

Did you try some other starting fluid? How about check the fuel filter?
Whether it is manual or automatic?

 

Ok, I replaced the ignition oil pack and had no change. Discovered that the Cylinder head temp sensor on the backside of the motor had been broken when taking out or putting in the trans. $16 later and truck runs and starts great. Makes sense if it would start good cold, start like **** warm and not at all hot. PCM was confused by two differing temp sensor results and was sending out crazy codes.