I have a 2001 F-250 Super Duty with the V10. It currently has 150,000 miles on it and I've had zero problems with it until now...I have a Frontier that I drive most of the time unless I need to move something heavy, so I don't drive the 250 too much. I go out every few days to start it and let it run awhile to let it warm up and keep the battery charged up. I am in the South, so there is little worry about bad cold weather. Here's the problem...in the last few months when I go out to start it, sometimes it will just turn over and over and not start. Nothing is obviously wrong. A little shot of starting fluid in the intake tube and it will fire up and run fine. Had to do that again this morning. Usually, when I have to do this, it will crank and fire up fine for the next few times and then it will do this again. I've been searching around trying to find some good clues as to what it could be and have found several posts that suggest the fuel pump. This makes no sense to me, since it will run fine once it fires up. The fuel pump would either work or it wouldn't. I know with some of the fuel injected cars I've had and still have, there has to be substantial constant pressure in the system at all times. I'm wondering if it is somehow losing this pressure and what controls it. Just pretty baffled at this point. I am no novice to mechanical operations and working on engines, etc., so I can follow up on any suggestions. I just don't want to chase my tail for hours if somebody else has experienced and fixed this. Please chime in if you've had this problem and what it took to fix it or if you just know what it likely is...any suggestions will be much appreciated!

 

Something you can try, when you go to start the engine after it has sat several hours, just turn the key on , but don't attempt to start it. Turn the key off and repeat the key on thing one more time then go to start it. If that gets rid of the start problem, the cause is most likely a defective check valve in the fuel pump/module.that is supposed to prevent the pressure from dropping a lot when shut down.
Let's see what you get trying what we suggested ,OK ?

 

OK, thank you for the suggestion. I'll give it a try and report back...

 

Just tried your suggestion and it didn't change anything. Still cranks but no start. I didn't mention it in the first post but the battery is near new too, so it cranks it with much authority - no weakness there...

 

On the chassis cross member just above the spare tire is a fuel pump driver module..

This unit if original, has been known to corrode and cause various fuel supply problems.
What you can do is,take it down and look at the surface that comes in contact with the crossmember. If it has any signs of corrosion ,sometimes rusted right through, it could be the source of the starting problem. Let us know what you find.

 

Sounds like a good lead, thank you. I'll search around and see if I can find a picture of what I'm looking for. I'll get under there and take a look at it and let you know what I find.

 

Well, while looking around for a picture of this module, I'm seeing multiple posts that this module is used on 2004 and newer trucks and won't be on my 2001. Should be relatively easy to check this on mine, since I already have the spare tire out for an issue with it...Will post what I find.

 

If you have the test equip to conduct a few tests , it might save you some time and $$$.

What we need to know is,,,,, when you first turn the key on , do you hear the fuel pump run for the usual 2-3 seconds ?

If not, we need to know if there is power getting to the fuel pump assy at any time?
Also ground connections need to be verified good.
If we have those 2 conditions , we are looking at a new fuel pump. simple.
If we don't have either one , then we need to start from where the signal comes from and verify it is actually being sent.
Because this gets somewhat involved , before going through a lot of steps we need to kow the basic things., equipment to conduct the checks and where to do them.
Does your vehicle have dual tanks?

 

No, it does not have factory installed dual tanks but it does have an auxiliary 50 gallon tank in the bed positioned behind the cab. Looks like a cross bed tool box. It doesn't have a switch to choose which tank it uses from, the bed tank just refills the factory tank as it gets lower. This set up was professionally installed prior to me owning the truck. I believe they were intending to use the truck for towing a camper, but never did. With the mileage the truck gets, it's actually a pretty handy thing to have. I've noticed posts referring to hearing the fuel pump. I cannot say I've ever heard it in all the years I've owned the truck. I'm going to get down near the tank and have my son turn the ignition on and see if I can hear anything. I'm not much on electrical tracing/testing, but can of course follow instructions. I've worked on cars my whole life from minor to major but have never been the best with the electrical gremlins. What is really confusing me, is why it will run fine after getting a shot of starting fluid. If the fuel pump has failed, why would it run at all? I'm certainly not seeing something here...

 

Just checked out underneath the rear end...definitely no module. Got right next to the tank and had my son turn the key to "on" and I heard nothing - did it a couple of times to be sure. There is a sound when turning the key to "on" but it sounds like a door or flap being actuated, but nothing else. We decided to give it a shot to see if it would crank and it fired right up. Let it run for 20 minutes or so, turned it off and waited a couple of minutes and it cranked right up again. Sometimes, when it goes thru this no start business, it can sit idling for 20/30 minutes and then when cut off, will not start back, so that's another oddity to add to this mix...