# 1997 Ford F150 won't start after losing power

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-f150-wont-start-after-losing-power/115625>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ford, f150\
**Created:** [April 14, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-f150-wont-start-after-losing-power/115625 "2018-04-14T01:08:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Matt06](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Matt06](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Matt06)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-f150-wont-start-after-losing-power/115625/1 "2018-04-14T01:08:08Z")

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So I have a '97 F150 and yesterday as I was driving, of a sudden my gas pedal easily pushed down but nothing happened and the truck shuttered slightly with very little power and then shut off. It restarted once, got weak power, moved a few feet then shut off again (could push gas pedal all the way down while still running but nothing). After that, it has not been able to start again. I was going about 30 when it happened. I got it towed back to the house.  
Currently the battery is operating strongly and everything sounds normal when I turn the key to start but truck still doesn’t start.  
Do you have any thoughts?

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-f150-wont-start-after-losing-power/115625/2 "2018-04-14T01:27:21Z")

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Is the check engine light on? What are the trouble codes? How many miles? What engine and transmission?We really need those first. Especially the codes. Any answer without that is a pure guess.

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-f150-wont-start-after-losing-power/115625/3 "2018-04-14T03:09:16Z")

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The very first thing you need to do is check if the engine is seized

use a 1/2" drive breaker bar with the appropriate size socket on the crankshaft pulley

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**Author:** ![Matt06](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Matt06](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Matt06)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 3:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-f150-wont-start-after-losing-power/115625/4 "2018-04-14T03:22:38Z")

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Check engine light no. Don’t have codes. 199300 miles. 4.6 v8 automatic.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-f150-wont-start-after-losing-power/115625/5 "2018-04-14T03:35:00Z")

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Measure the fuel pressure, the fuel pump may have failed.

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**Author:** ![Matt06](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Matt06](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Matt06)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2018, 7:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-ford-f150-wont-start-after-losing-power/115625/6 "2018-04-14T07:40:49Z")

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Can hear fuel pump when I turn key to start. Fuel relay ground tests good with test light. Think it can be something else in fuel system? Dont have the pressure gauge yet