1997 ford expedition
 

why 99% of the time it wont start and those times that it does run you can hear the fuel pump running

i dont want to drop the tank if there is something else wrong with it

If you have the owner's manual check for the location of relay #6 in the fuse panel under the hood. You should feel that relay energize when you first turn the key on and can feel it drop out if you don't attempt to start it. You can also find the inertia switch located at the top of the right side kick panel and give it a whack and you will hear the ball roll as the switch opens. Then just depress the reset button and if all is well the pump should run as expected.